[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
under the thumb of their illustrious ruler. This small group came to us requesting that we not only close the door, but that we also
kill Aurora.
My legs stopped working as I listened to these words, as if the very idea had locked up my brain. I stood planted to the spot,
blindly staring ahead at the large plaza we had entered. Kill Aurora, I repeated dumbly.
They wish to return to the peaceful existence they had found. Aurora will not allow that. She will continue with her plans for
wiping out both humans and nightwalkers.
I don t believe it. I shook my head, as if trying to clear the clutter of questions that had crowded in my brain. Macaire tried to
continue walking, but I wouldn t move.
You do not have to, he said patiently. The Elders do.
To kill Aurora, she has to come through the door, which means we have to allow them to open the door, Danaus reminded him.
It would be safer to stop them before they open it. It may be centuries before she has another chance to open the door again.
We considered that, and there is one problem& Macaire paused, moving his gaze from Danaus to my face. You.
I lurched backward a step, putting a little distance between us. The sidewalk seemed to have narrowed, leaving me feeling
trapped between Danaus and Macaire. This conversation had taken a strange, unexpected turn. What do you mean?
You are needed to shut the door and form the seal. We also believe you are our best chance at destroying Aurora, he said.
Unfortunately, considering your reckless lifestyle and your unexpected alliance, the Coven doesn t feel confident that you will
survive long enough to stop Aurora if she tries again a couple centuries from now.
Best chance don t you mean best weapon? I snapped irritably.
Yes, he said in a slow hiss. You are an exquisite weapon, whether you act alone or are being wielded by another. The Coven
thinks this is our best chance to stop Aurora once and for all. To finish it. And we re not sure we ll have another chance like this
one.
So we allow her to come through the door, close the door, and then kill her, I stated, frowning darkly at him. After that, the
naturi that hired us go free.
Returning to their quiet lives, he said with a nod as he laced his stubby fingers behind his back and continued to walk along the
sidewalk until it opened up into a large, open square.
What do we get out of this? I demanded, unable to keep the skepticism out of my voice. I folded my arms over my chest and
stared hard at the Elder, but he ignored my dark looks.
Besides the chance to destroy their queen and cripple their race?
Yes. We re the ones risking everything.
Macaire smiled and strolled into the center of the campo, his hands clasped loosely behind his back. Reluctantly, Danaus and I
followed him into the center of the square. The area was mostly empty. At the far end of the campo a stage was being decorated
by several people. They appeared to be preparing for a festival, though I wasn t sure which one. On the stage sat a row of five
chairs with high backs, reminding me vaguely of the Great Hall dais. Obviously, Macaire had planned on walking to this part of the
neighborhood. He had something else on his mind.
What do you know of the Great Awakening? he asked, his tone sounding as if he had just asked what the weather would be
like tomorrow.
A general outline of the plan. Why? It s not supposed to be for another fifty years and even that s still up for debate.
It s the debate that has the Elders concerned, he said. His hands swung from his back and hung limp at his sides. He looked
around, taking in the string of little lights overhead and the other tables that lined the edge of the square. Tomorrow they would
most likely be overflowing with food while the square buzzed with conversation and laughter. It seems Our Liege wishes to
change the date of the Awakening.
To what?
Next year.
Is he mad? Danaus blurted out, causing me to wince at his volume and tone. It was not the type of thing anyone dared to voice
about Our Liege. You never knew who was listening. I had always been outspoken, but there were a few lines even I was hesitant
to cross.
That s not the word I would use, Macaire said, his grim voice a proper reprimand for my companion s unseemly outburst.
It s too soon, I said to the Elder, resisting the urge to place my hand on Danaus s arm to steady myself. My world was spinning
out of control and I desperately wanted to run away from them all. The humans may be able to adapt, but there are still a few
stages that are supposed to be implemented. It would make the transition easier. The timetable was developed to protect our
kind. You can t throw it aside.
You re not telling me anything the Coven has not already discussed. Macaire waved one hand absently at me. A frown dug
deeper lines into his grim face.
I walked over to stand directly in front of him, lowering my voice. Our agitated conversation was drawing the confused gaze of
those on the stage at the far aside of the square. What about the other races? What have they said?
They wish to stick to the timetable.
I closed my eyes, not wanting to hear any more, but there was one other question that had to be asked. Will Our Liege proceed
without the rest of the races?
It is his intention. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl exclamation.htw.pl
under the thumb of their illustrious ruler. This small group came to us requesting that we not only close the door, but that we also
kill Aurora.
My legs stopped working as I listened to these words, as if the very idea had locked up my brain. I stood planted to the spot,
blindly staring ahead at the large plaza we had entered. Kill Aurora, I repeated dumbly.
They wish to return to the peaceful existence they had found. Aurora will not allow that. She will continue with her plans for
wiping out both humans and nightwalkers.
I don t believe it. I shook my head, as if trying to clear the clutter of questions that had crowded in my brain. Macaire tried to
continue walking, but I wouldn t move.
You do not have to, he said patiently. The Elders do.
To kill Aurora, she has to come through the door, which means we have to allow them to open the door, Danaus reminded him.
It would be safer to stop them before they open it. It may be centuries before she has another chance to open the door again.
We considered that, and there is one problem& Macaire paused, moving his gaze from Danaus to my face. You.
I lurched backward a step, putting a little distance between us. The sidewalk seemed to have narrowed, leaving me feeling
trapped between Danaus and Macaire. This conversation had taken a strange, unexpected turn. What do you mean?
You are needed to shut the door and form the seal. We also believe you are our best chance at destroying Aurora, he said.
Unfortunately, considering your reckless lifestyle and your unexpected alliance, the Coven doesn t feel confident that you will
survive long enough to stop Aurora if she tries again a couple centuries from now.
Best chance don t you mean best weapon? I snapped irritably.
Yes, he said in a slow hiss. You are an exquisite weapon, whether you act alone or are being wielded by another. The Coven
thinks this is our best chance to stop Aurora once and for all. To finish it. And we re not sure we ll have another chance like this
one.
So we allow her to come through the door, close the door, and then kill her, I stated, frowning darkly at him. After that, the
naturi that hired us go free.
Returning to their quiet lives, he said with a nod as he laced his stubby fingers behind his back and continued to walk along the
sidewalk until it opened up into a large, open square.
What do we get out of this? I demanded, unable to keep the skepticism out of my voice. I folded my arms over my chest and
stared hard at the Elder, but he ignored my dark looks.
Besides the chance to destroy their queen and cripple their race?
Yes. We re the ones risking everything.
Macaire smiled and strolled into the center of the campo, his hands clasped loosely behind his back. Reluctantly, Danaus and I
followed him into the center of the square. The area was mostly empty. At the far end of the campo a stage was being decorated
by several people. They appeared to be preparing for a festival, though I wasn t sure which one. On the stage sat a row of five
chairs with high backs, reminding me vaguely of the Great Hall dais. Obviously, Macaire had planned on walking to this part of the
neighborhood. He had something else on his mind.
What do you know of the Great Awakening? he asked, his tone sounding as if he had just asked what the weather would be
like tomorrow.
A general outline of the plan. Why? It s not supposed to be for another fifty years and even that s still up for debate.
It s the debate that has the Elders concerned, he said. His hands swung from his back and hung limp at his sides. He looked
around, taking in the string of little lights overhead and the other tables that lined the edge of the square. Tomorrow they would
most likely be overflowing with food while the square buzzed with conversation and laughter. It seems Our Liege wishes to
change the date of the Awakening.
To what?
Next year.
Is he mad? Danaus blurted out, causing me to wince at his volume and tone. It was not the type of thing anyone dared to voice
about Our Liege. You never knew who was listening. I had always been outspoken, but there were a few lines even I was hesitant
to cross.
That s not the word I would use, Macaire said, his grim voice a proper reprimand for my companion s unseemly outburst.
It s too soon, I said to the Elder, resisting the urge to place my hand on Danaus s arm to steady myself. My world was spinning
out of control and I desperately wanted to run away from them all. The humans may be able to adapt, but there are still a few
stages that are supposed to be implemented. It would make the transition easier. The timetable was developed to protect our
kind. You can t throw it aside.
You re not telling me anything the Coven has not already discussed. Macaire waved one hand absently at me. A frown dug
deeper lines into his grim face.
I walked over to stand directly in front of him, lowering my voice. Our agitated conversation was drawing the confused gaze of
those on the stage at the far aside of the square. What about the other races? What have they said?
They wish to stick to the timetable.
I closed my eyes, not wanting to hear any more, but there was one other question that had to be asked. Will Our Liege proceed
without the rest of the races?
It is his intention. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]