The Shattered City Read Online Free PDF

this?’
    Velody didn’t have time to think about what it might mean that Delphine could feel the chill from the sky. ‘How drunk is he? Have you seen him?’
    â€˜You’ll be taking to the sky without him this nox,’ broke in another voice, a grumpy Macready.
    â€˜We’ll see about that,’ said Velody.
    She found Ashiol leaning against a wall near the spice shop. His attention had been wholly caught by thereflection of lanterns in the window opposite. Velody resisted the urge to ask him if he might prefer a ball of yarn to play with. ‘The sky,’ she snapped at him. ‘Now.’
    Ashiol turned with a startled movement and half-staggered. Velody caught his arm to stop him falling, but it was more of a job than she had thought. He all but had his dead weight leaning on her. ‘Stop this right now,’ she hissed at him.
    â€˜May as well tell the river not to flood in Martial, Saint Velody,’ he said with a slur.
    Her heart sank as she saw how glazed his eyes were and caught the stench of his breath. He had been drinking more than wine, it seemed. ‘You knew the sky was throwing something at us this nox,’ she accused. ‘Why would you be so irresponsible?’
    Ashiol laughed, and it was nothing like the laughter of Livilla that she had already endured this nox. This was an empty sound. ‘I don’t need to be responsible any more, sweetling. That’s what you’re for.’
    Velody shoved him off her, and this time he did fall, sliding carelessly into a heap at the side of the street. ‘I should make you fight the sky anyway,’ she said, but they both knew she wouldn’t do that.
    The air turned even colder, and when she looked up she could see a silvery pattern beginning to spread over the greenish clouds. She had wasted enough time down here. ‘Macready, could you …’
    â€˜Way ahead of you, lass,’ said the sentinel, tossing his brown cloak over Ashiol, and then hauling him to his feet with a grunt.
    â€˜Don’t think I’m going to help,’ said Delphine.
    â€˜My heart’s broken, for I was counting on your kindness,’ Macready shot back.
    Velody tuned them both out, her eyes on the flickering silver strands in the sky. They formed something like a cracked snowflake, all jagged shapes and brightness. Other shapes flitted in front of the clouds — creatures from her own Court. She was needed there.
    If Poet and Livilla could do it, why not?
    Velody soared into the sky without a care for who saw her go. Her skin was chill with the frosty air as she sped higher, into the unknown. Every battle was different, and she hadn’t seen spike patterns of ice like this before. She should be learning everything she could about this new danger, but it was hard to clear her mind of her anger at Ashiol.
    What did he think he was doing? She knew he had wanted her to be Power and Majesty so he wouldn’t have to, but she still relied on him to be there, supporting her. There was still so much she didn’t know about being part of the Creature Court, and Ashiol was the only one she could trust with that vulnerability. Without him, she was truly on her own.
    The wind was freezing cold this high up, chilling her to the bone. Time to pay attention, before she got herself sliced to pieces. Velody gasped as ice blasted her from behind, showering her with tiny pellets that burned at her skin. She swiped them off, and felt another pair of hands helping her.
    â€˜Careful, Majesty,’ said Priest, ever the polite seigneur. The large man, the only member of the Creature Court over forty, had not been at the street party with the other Lords, but he was here now. He dusted the last of the ice pellets from her back and hovered there beside her. ‘These nodules are harmless enough, as long as you don’t stay in contact too long. They’re attracted byanimor, and if too many cling to you at once it