Shadow and Bone

Everywhere I looked, I saw marble and gold, soaring walls of
white and palest blue, gleaming chandeliers, liveried footmen,
polished parquet floors laid out in elaborate geometric designs.
It wasn’t without beauty, but there was something exhausting
about the extravagance of it all. I’d always assumed that
Ravka’s hungry peasants and poorly supplied soldiers were the
result of the Shadow Fold. But as we walked by a tree of jade
embellished with diamond leaves, I wasn’t so sure.
The throne room was three stories high, every window
sparkling with gold double eagles. A long, pale blue carpet ran
the length of the room to where the members of the court
milled about a raised throne. Many of the men wore military
dress, black trousers and white coats laden with medals and
ribbons. The women sparkled in gowns of liquid silk with little
puffed sleeves and low necklines. Flanking the carpeted aisle,
the Grisha stood arranged in their separate orders.
A hush fell as every face turned to me and the Darkling. We
walked slowly toward the golden throne. As we drew closer,
the King sat up straighter, tense with excitement. He looked to
be in his forties, slender and round-shouldered with big watery
eyes and a pale mustache. He wore full military dress, a thin
sword at his side, his narrow chest covered with medals.
Beside him on the raised dais stood a man with a long, dark
beard. He wore priest’s robes, but a gold double eagle was
emblazoned on his chest.
The Darkling gave my arm a gentle squeeze to warn me that
we were stopping.
“Your highness, moi tsar,” he said in clear tones. “Alina
Starkov, the Sun Summoner.” A rush of murmurs came from
the crowd. I wasn’t sure if I should bow or curtsy. Ana Kuya
had insisted that all the orphans know how to greet the Duke’s
few noble guests, but somehow, it didn’t feel right to curtsy in
army-issue trousers. The King saved me from making a
blunder when he waved us forward impatiently. “Come, come!
Bring her to me.”
The Darkling and I walked to the base of the dais.