Nightbane by Alex Aster
Author:Alex Aster
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Abrams
Published: 2023-11-07T00:00:00+00:00
She took her to a field of craters. They were holes in the isle like stars had fallen from the sky and left their marks. Someone stood in one of the cratersâ center.
Streams of silver shot from their hands in glittering ribbons. They whipped against the sides of the crater, piercing the rock, slicing through it like butter. Creatures formed from the sparks, and they slithered, jumped, flew around the crater, contained only by its perimeter. It was a dazzling display of power.
It was Cinder.
Islaâs mouth had dropped open watching. Cinder wielded power like a master. Her stances, the liquidous movements of her armsâeverything was so natural, as if sheâd been alive for many multiples of her actual age.
She jumped down into the crater, and the little girl whipped around. A smile transformed her features. âIsla!â
âWho was your teacher?â she asked in lieu of greeting. âAre they still living?â
Cinder regarded her strangely. âTeacher?â She looked to Maren, who had carefully made her way down one of the craterâs edges. Maren only shrugged a shoulder.
âWho taught you to wield this way?â Isla shook her head in disbelief. âI was told there werenât any Starling masters left. How many can wield like you? You must have started training before you could walk! You must practice every moment.â
Cinder laughed. âNo, not really.â She shrugged. âIâm just good at it, I guess.â
I guess?
Isla looked to Maren, who seemed wary. She stepped to the opposite side of the crater, away from Cinder, and Isla followed. âWhen she was two years old, I heard her laughing in a room all alone. I came in to find her playing with a perfect ball of sparks. One she had created herself.â
Islaâs brows came together. âBut that . . . that shouldnât be possible, should it? Someone who isnât a ruler being that powerful?â
âIt is certainly unusual. She is the best wielder on the isle.â She lowered her voice. âAnd she is the only reason any of us survived the fire that destroyed our homes.â
Cinder was laughing as she created an animal with a crown of antlers out of sparks. It hopped on its haunches, jumping around her in a circle. Isla understood now. âThatâs why youâve never let her leave,â she said. âYou donât want anyone else to know.â
Maren nodded. âShe is more a sister to me than a cousin. Having any family relation is rare for Starlings. She is my responsibility. She is everything to me.â
Cinder blasted over, propelled by Starling energy shooting out of both of her palms. âYour turn, Isla! The crater is so plain and boring. Paint it with flowers!â
Maren gave her a look. âShe is our ruler, Cinder. You do not command her.â
âItâs all right,â Isla said, smiling. She raised her hand, and flowers bloomed across the ground.
âPretty! Make a beast next! Make one like I do, but out of plants and sticks and stuff!â
Her expression faltered, just a little. âIâI donât think I can, Cinder.â
Cinder frowned. âWhy not?â
âIâm only now learning to wield.
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