The Gray Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams Chima Read Free Book Online Page A

rank upon rank of peaks shrouded in snow and cloud. Green spires of fir and brilliant birch smudged the lower slopes. The cool blue of shadow on snow filled the valleys where the sun had not yet penetrated. Frowning gray granite summits were concealed, then revealed by streaming mist. The cold voice of the Spirits called to her, and something within her answered.

    This was the dwelling place of her ancestors, blood and bone of the upland queens. And, somewhere ahead, the city of Fellsmarch lay hidden in the Vale. Somewhere ahead, her mother waited—the mother who might be planning to disinherit her.

    Switcher stood splay-legged and breathing hard, despite raisa’s slight weight. “i’m sorry,” she murmured, stroking the mare’s neck, knowing they had a tougher road ahead of them.
    The southernmost Queen peaks were gentle, ancient matriarchs ground down by the witch winds that stormed down out of the north after solstice. These mountains were so old, their names had been forgotten.

    But ahead lay brooding Hanalea, greatest and most terrible of all. plumes of steam rose from the hot springs, geysers, and mudpots that dotted her shoulders where the fiery Beneath broke through the thin crust of the earth. Her name would never be forgotten, not as long as her people remembered the Breaking, and observed the næ´ming.
    43

    T H e G r Ay wo L F T H ro n e

    To the south and west lay Tamron Court, where Amon Byrne was trapped by Montaigne’s army. Further east was oden’s Ford, where raisa had left Han Alister without saying good-bye.

    once again, the pain settled beneath her breastbone, squeezing off her breath. not grief, exactly, but . . . well, yes, grief for the words that would never be spoken, for a love that would never be consummated, and for a friend whose life was in desperate peril.

    Maybe it was better that way. Better for Han, at least. Assuming raisa survived, she was destined for a political marriage.
    Han had already lost his family and most of his friends. Further involvement in the treacherous politics of the Gray wolf court would likely get him killed. He’d been doing well at the academy in oden’s Ford. Better that he stay there and forget about her.

    Maybe he already had.

    Gripping the reins hard, she stared straight ahead, drawing deep breaths, biting her lower lip, no longer seeing what lay before her.

    As her guard surrounded her, she heard the creak of saddle leather, the rattle of hooves against rock, the soft greetings of horses. She breathed in the scent of damp wool and soldiers too long on the road.

    “your Highness.”

    raisa flinched, still staring straight ahead.

    “your Highness, please,” Byrne said. “i wish you would not insist on racing so far ahead.”

    This time, she twisted in her saddle, looking into his wind-burnt face, now etched with concern.

    “i thought you said we were in a hurry,” raisa said.
    44

    B A D n e w S A n D G o o D n e w S

    “Aye. we are. But you should be riding in the middle of the triple, not breaking trail out in front. we cannot protect you if you ride out of sight of us.”

    “Am i a prisoner who must be watched constantly?” Unable to control the quaver in her voice, she clapped her mouth shut and stared down at the ground.

    Byrne gazed at her for a long moment, then turned in his saddle, waving the others back with his gloved hand, clearly preferring that they not overhear this conversation. “Take fifteen to rest the horses before we push on,” he called.

    He dismounted, dropping his reins so his horse could lip at the sparse vegetation. raisa dismounted also, taking shelter from the wind between the two horses.

    “we are here to serve and protect you, your Highness, not confine you,” Byrne said. The gray eyes reproached her.

    raisa knew she was being unreasonable, but she couldn’t help herself. She couldn’t even trust herself to reply. instead, she yanked her gloves off with her teeth. working quickly, before her