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Back The Endless Skies
Chapters (57)
  1. Copyright Notice
  2. Dedication
  3. Map
  4. PROLOGUE
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. 8
  13. 9
  14. 10
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. 15
  20. 16
  21. 17
  22. 18
  23. 19
  24. 20
  25. 21
  26. 22
  27. 23
  28. 24
  29. 25
  30. 26
  31. 27
  32. 28
  33. 29
  34. 30
  35. 31
  36. 32
  37. 33
  38. 34
  39. 35
  40. 36
  41. 37
  42. 38
  43. 39
  44. 40
  45. 41
  46. 42
  47. 43
  48. 44
  49. 45
  50. 46
  51. 47
  52. 48
  53. EPILOGUE
  54. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  55. Also by Shannon Price
  56. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  57. Newsletter Sign-up

I pause a moment to watch as a healer flies overhead, headed for the Glass Tower. Her shadow crosses over the two of us, and for a moment, I wonder why a healer would be flying straight to the king, during a festival of all days. I couldn’t think of anything so urgent as to call him there.

“Oh, hey,” I say. “I found a dead bird earlier, like the sentinels said to look out for.”

“Sentinel Renna said to report any of them to her,” Ox replies.

“I know,” I say. “Even we lowly warriors-elect got the same orders.” I resume walking. “I’ll write up a report tonight. No need to do it now, right?”

A selfish fear rises in my stomach. I am so close. So close to becoming a warrior. Whatever is going on must be serious, but it won’t change anything.

I’ve dreamed of taking the warrior oath for years: the king speaking the words, and a sentinel handing me robes the color of bravery and loyalty. I’ll put them on immediately, and when there is a break in the celebrations, I’ll go to my father’s grave and tell him I did it, I became a warrior just like we’d always talked about.

Nothing under the skies can take that dream from me. Nothing.

2

SHIRENE

Sounds of revelry echo from far below us, just enough to remind me of all we are missing out on. I was supposed to have been judging a dance competition at the marketplace by now. The citizens will have already noticed us gone.

Sweat breaks at my brow despite the breeze. I know my role means I have to push away my fear, even more so than when I was a warrior. With the city’s eyes on the sentinels for strength, calm is all I can allow myself to be.

Still.

We have been patient with the humans. We tried to do the right thing, and they closed off their hearts.

A palace attendant announces that the ambassadors have arrived. I sent the summons myself, and thankfully my first task as the King’s Voice has gone smoothly. We sentinels start to take our normal places, and Hammond clears his throat when he sees me going to my chair.

“The King’s Voice sits nearest the king and queen, Lady Shirene.”

“Ah, thank you,” I say. “Old habits.” Sentinel Faera had been the King’s Voice so long, it seemed to come naturally to her. I think of the older sentinel’s posture and gestures, and hope I’ll manage to live up to her legacy.