Wind Over Bone: The Estralony Cycle #2 (Young Adult Fantasy Romance) by E. D. Ebeling Page A

the others. You aren’t in a friendly mood, are you?”
    “You killed them.”
    “ They were in my way.”
    Sarid buried her hands in her hair. “Do you not understand what you’ve done?”
    “You weren’t so touchy when I killed a rabbit so you could win races for two days.”
    “ That was a rabbit. You can’t kill thirty people and expect everyone to not notice .”
    “ They’re people, Sarid.” She showed a conciliatory dimple. “I’m only doing what an epidemic would.”
    “ That’s how a saebel would think,” Sarid said. “You can’t be a saebel here. Saebels are monsters.”
    “ People are the monsters.  Razing down woods, living long, selfish lives––” Yelse put her arm behind her head, clicked her nails on the headboard. “But you don’t agree. I suppose I’ll have to convince you some other way.”
    Sarid had a vision of someone––Mari, Vanli––listening at the door; she looked behind her and saw nobody. “You can’t stay. They’ll find out.”
    “They won’t. Who would tell? No one knows except––how I love exceptions––which reminds me, Sarid, be a dear and don’t tell anyone who I am or what I’m doing.”
    “ I don’t know what you’re doing.” She looked towards the door again, heart skipping. “You’re a danger to everyone here, I’ve got to––”
    “ You’ve no choice in the matter,” she said pleasantly. “ Don’t tell anyone .”
    It was a spell: Sarid felt a breath of freezing air; the geas tightened around her throat like a cold hand.
    Yelse shrugged. “Except one person.”
    The geas loosened hardly at all. “How––” said Sarid, nails digging into her neck.
    Yelse took her meaning. “Experience. I’ll teach you if you like.”
     
    ***
     
    Sarid paced in her room for half an hour, considering telling Rischa. But she remembered how his face had gone odd when he looked at Yelse––it was probably odd still, wherever it was at the moment. She wasn’t sure what other powers her sister had, but she decided she’d better examine Rischa on the sly. Frustrated, she briefly toyed with telling Savvel. He was mad enough to believe her. Then she stopped in mid-step, cursing herself for an idiot. Her father. She would have to seek him out, though. Tomorrow. It was too late in the day to scramble about in the mountains.
    Just then Rischa’s voice came through the fireplace: “Bones, if you’re in there, come quick.”
    She jerked around. “Why?”
    “ Mari says the princess has woken up. We can get the story from her own mouth––”
    “ You weren’t thinking of asking her?” said Mari as Sarid, fixing her face into a less apprehensive expression, climbed out to join them.
    “ I wouldn’t ask her anything just now,” said Sarid, standing upright.
    “ Nonsense,” said Rischa. He had the same half smile playing on his face. “She’s probably eager to talk after such a long sleep.”
    “ Oh, yes, eager,” said Mari, and they began to walk down the corridor.  “To describe how her mother and father had their heads wrenched off––”
    “ Actually she’s probably raving mad,” said Sarid. “After what happened. It might be better we don’t talk to her at all.” The other two stopped and looked at her.
    “ You think so?” said Rischa.
    “ Maybe,” said Sarid, growing hot. “No good sentimentalizing her trauma.” They lapsed into an uncomfortable silence.
     
    ***
     
    When they reached the infirmary a tall man stood in the doorway of the princess’ sickroom. He turned: it was Savvel; his brows were pulled down in a troubled expression.
    “ What are you doing here?” said Rischa.
    “ I’ll go where I please,” he growled. “So long’s I’m not killing anyone.”
    Rischa didn’t argue, just pushed past him through the doorway. Mari followed, but Sarid stopped and looked into Savvel’s face. His skin was green-tinged. Sweat beaded on his temples.
    “Are you all right?” she asked.
    “ She’s evil,”