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Back The Endless Skies Save as PDF
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

Next to me, Exin turns, and we lock eyes. The names and faces of the warriors in our cohort flash in my mind as I think through who might be picked. Exin—he’s a swift flyer. Sethran will go, I think. I pray to the skies that I’ll be on his team.

The sentinels cannot go themselves. During their swearing-in ceremonies, they vow to always remain on the Heliana as a sign of their devotion to the king. It’s the same reason they are not allowed to marry while in the king’s direct service. So long as he lives, he is their highest priority.

A looming dread creeps into my mind. The Heliana’s magic is strongest close to the city, and it drains like water from a leaky bucket when we’re too far from it. If I’m chosen, my wings will only carry me so far into Balmora. Eventually, the magic will run out. We will be confined to our human forms and forced to make our way on foot.

The Ninth Sentinel calls out the names.

4

ROWAN

Shirene’s voice echoes around the Glass Tower, strangely familiar and unnatural at the same time. “She’s the King’s Voice,” I whisper. “I can’t believe it.”

“He needed one,” Vera replies. “It’s a great honor.”

I nod my agreement. It’s the kind of thing Shirene would never ask for, though. I wonder which of the other sentinels spoke up for her, or if the king chose her blindly.

Teams fill up between hushed cheers. As groups of four file out of the hall together, my heart sinks like a boulder into a river. No warriors-elect are being called. Stealing glances at my peers, I’m met with concerned expressions and furrowed brows. The ones with younger siblings find strength in one another’s gazes.

“We should be allowed to go,” says a deep voice that is unmistakably Bel’s. Skies keep him, he is not great at whispering. “We can take the oath now.” I turn my head a tiny bit so he knows I heard him and agree.

My heart pounds. Ox. Callen. Ox. Callen. I don’t want either of them to go—but how selfish is that, when I would love to be on a team?

“The final team,” Shirene calls out, “will be commanded by warrior Sethran.”

“Oh no,” I whisper.

To Shirene’s credit, she doesn’t so much as flinch. She’s always been cool under pressure. It’s one of the things I respect most about her.

“Next, warrior Callen.”

Callen stands. He is not so far from me that I don’t notice the pale blue earring on his left ear. No. My heart lurches—first he tells me he loves me, and now he’s leaving.