The Shattered City Read Online Free PDF Page A

thought sometimes that he was inside her, part of her, crawling under her skin. In the silence of the nox, she could hear the echo of his laugh.
    The sky rippled above her. They could agree on that, at least. There was no time for music and sweetmeats when there was a city to protect. ‘So sad,’ Poet said mockingly. ‘Our evening of slumming it with the peasants is over so soon?’
    â€˜I’d sympathise,’ Velody replied. ‘But I’m pretty sure no one invited you.’
    â€˜You wound me,’ he sighed.
    â€˜You’ll survive.’
    â€˜And wouldn’t you feel terrible if I didn’t?’ His eyes danced at her, and then he whipped up into the sky, his garish robes flapping around him as he flew like a pantomime angel ascending to the stars above.
    Velody jumped back and looked around defensively, but she was seeing the blindness of daylight folk at close hand. Two chattering demmes had been standing rightbehind Poet, and they had not even blinked when he took to the sky. One of them broke off from their conversation when she caught Velody staring, and gave her an unfriendly look.
    So, then. Could she turn into a mess of little brown mice in the midst of this mob, and have them not turn a hair? Every instinct told her not to try. The last thing she needed was her neighbours deciding to burn her as a witch.
    The sky rumbled with a sound that was not thunder. There was a clash and the warm summer evening was suddenly cold, as cold as the Ides of Saturnalis. Velody breathed out, and saw steam. Across the street, she saw Maia from the laundry smiling up at Benedine of the hot food shop, shrugging her light summer shawl a few more inches off her shoulders. They were not feeling the ice in the air. Velody looked around for the rest of them and saw Warlord standing in a small crowd of fruitsellers, charming them all effortlessly, a cup of wine in one hand and a demoiselle in the other. He met Velody’s gaze and smiled at her, showing bright white teeth against his dark skin.
    She tilted her head, just a little, giving him her best stern Power and Majesty expression. He lowered his head in an infinitesimal movement that might possibly have been a nod, and then excused himself from his playmates, disappearing into the crowd.
    Moments later, the silhouette of a large black panther appeared on a rooftop above their heads, and stepped into the sky as if he owned it.
    Livilla prowled her way down the street towards Velody. She stopped only a few feet from her, looking her up and down as she always did, as if Velody wasfood. As Livilla’s shape was the wolf and Velody’s a horde of mice, it wasn’t far wrong. ‘Aren’t you going to ask nicely?’ Livilla said, arching her eyebrow.
    â€˜I didn’t think I had to,’ Velody said. She concentrated on keeping her voice firm and confident, as if she was training a hound — never let them smell your fear.
    Livilla laughed too long, and too loudly. ‘You’ll need us, I suppose, since your fellow King is deep in his cups.’
    Oh, hells. Velody lost interest in Livilla, scanning the mob for Ashiol. ‘Where is he?’
    â€˜How should I know?’ Livilla kicked her shoes under a table and took to the air as Poet had, right in front of everyone. ‘I’ll be in the sky if you need me.’
    Velody could still hear the Lord of Wolves laughing above her as she ran the length of Via Silviana, looking for Ashiol bloody Xandelian. Someone caught her arm and she spun around, ready to fight if she had to.
    â€˜What’s wrong?’ Delphine demanded.
    â€˜You need to get into the house,’ Velody told her. ‘No gameplaying now. I mean it. Have you seen Ashiol?’
    â€˜No, and I don’t care to. He’s a boring drunk, no matter how well he can dance.’ Delphine shrugged one shoulder. ‘I was going in, anyway. It’s freezing. What kind of summer is