Nightfall
Page 55
“Where are the guards?” Sandor asked, his muscled hand hovering near his sword.
“It’s the dwarves’ shift,” Mr. Forkle reminded him.
“You okay?” Sophie asked, noticing the death glare Fitz was giving his brother.
His nod was far from convincing, so she reached for his hand—but he scooted closer, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and holding on like she was the only thing keeping him steady. And maybe she was. He was shaking almost as hard as his father, who’d leaned on the room’s only table to keep his balance.
“I’ll talk first,” Mr. Forkle told them as he held up a vial of the green antidote. “Then his father should have a turn. And his brother. Miss Foster can go next—”
“So I’m last?” Keefe interrupted. “That stings, Forkle. And shouldn’t a Physician be here, by the way?”
“I’ve had plenty of medical training,” Mr. Forkle reminded him. “Everyone ready?”
They each held their breath as he spread the green slime over Alvar’s heel.
The antidote took longer to set in than it had with Sophie’s parents—long enough that Sophie was wishing the cramped room had an extra chair.
Keefe looked ready to go back to whining when Alvar finally stirred. His eyelids peeled open, revealing pale blue eyes just like his mother’s—though at the moment they were bloodshot, and stretched wide with terror.
“Easy,” Mr. Forkle told him as Alvar strained against his bonds, screaming and kicking and flailing. “You’re going to hurt yourself.”
That only made Alvar thrash harder.
He tried to say something, but his voice was like shredded sandpaper.
“Here,” Sophie said, grabbing a bottle of Youth off the tiny table. “Try drinking this.”
He flinched when she stepped closer, but let her press the bottle against his lips, greedily guzzling down the cool liquid.
“Not too much,” Mr. Forkle warned. “His stomach has been empty for a long time.”
Sophie gave him one more second, then pulled the bottle away.
Alvar cleared his throat and managed to rasp, “Where am I?”
“Somewhere you cannot escape,” Mr. Forkle told him. “So do not try. Once we see how that water settles, I’ll bring you some broth. And in the meantime, you can tell us why the Neverseen wanted to get rid of you, and what they’re planning next.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Alvar snapped.
“Right,” Fitz snorted. “You’re seriously going to cover for them? After they cut you up and left you to die?”
Alvar thrashed against his bonds again.
“You’re going to hurt yourself,” Alden warned.
“Then let me go!” Alvar shouted. “Please, I don’t know anything.”
He turned his desperate gaze to Sophie. “Please help me.”
“None of us are buying this, Alvar,” Fitz snapped. “Just stop.”
“Alvar?” he repeated, every line on his face twisting with confusion.
His eyes darted between them, studying their expressions. Then to his bonds. Then back to Sophie.
He huffed out a shaky breath. “Who’s Alvar?”
Acknowledgments
Yeah . . . that really was the end. (And, yes, I realize you’re all probably glaring at me right now.) But don’t worry, it’s not the end of the series! I still have more story ahead! I just have to, you know, write it—which I promise I’m doing as fast as I can!
In the meantime, I hope you know how much I adore each and every one of you. You’re worth the sleepless nights and stressful days spent yelling at characters who refuse to cooperate. Thank you for going with Sophie (and me) on this journey. I say this every year, but it never stops being true: I really do have the most amazing readers ever.
I also would not have survived the chaotic deadline schedule if it weren’t for the patience, support, and enthusiasm of an incredible team of people. You each deserve your own paragraph, but since this book ended up an epic length, I have to lump you all together:
My brilliant agent, Laura Rennert (and everyone else at Andrea Brown Literary, as well as Taryn Fagerness). My tireless and inspiring editor, Liesa Abrams Mignogna, and everyone else at Simon & Schuster, especially Jon Anderson, Mara Anastas, Katherine Devendorf, Adam Smith, Rebecca Vitkus, Jodie Hockensmith, Lauren Hoffman, Catherine Hayden, Anna Jarzab, Nicole Russo, Jessica Smith, Tricia Lin, Karin Paprocki, Bernadette Flinn, Steve Scott, Michelle Fadlalla, Anthony Parisi, Mike Rosamilia, Jenn Rothkin, Ian Reilly, Christina Pecorale, Victor Iannone, and the entire sales team. Cécile Pournin, Mathilde Tamae-bouhon, and everyone at Lumen Editions also deserve my eternal gratitude for the hectic scramble they endured to get this book translated for my wonderful French readers. And Jason Chan has once again topped himself with a stunningly gorgeous cover.
I’d also be lost without Amie Kauffman, Lisa Mantchev, Victoria Morris, Kari Olson, Cindy Pon, CJ Redwine, James Riley, J. Scott Savage, Amy Tintera, Kasie West, and Natalie Whipple. And this series never would’ve found its way into readers’ hands if it weren’t for the efforts of booksellers, librarians, and educators, especially Mel Barnes, Katie Bartow, Lynette Dodds, Jo Gray, Maryelizabeth Hart, Faith Hochhalter, Heather Laird, Katie Laird, Kim Laird, Angela Mann, Barbara Mena, Brandi Stewart, and so many others I’m probably forgetting (SORRY). And special thanks to the California Young Reader Medal for giving me my first “win.”
Last, but absolutely not least, I have to thank my family. Mom and Dad, I don’t have enough space to list all the things you do for me and this series—but I hope you know how much I appreciate you. And Miles . . . I could ramble endlessly about how happy I am to be married to you, but I think what we both want to hear more than anything is: I AM DEADLINE FREE!
(You know, for a couple of weeks. Then it’s on to book seven! Aren’t you glad you married a writer?)
About the Author
COPYRIGHT © 2012 BY DEVENDE PHOTOGRAPHY
SHANNON MESSENGER graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts, where she learned—among other things—that she liked watching movies much better than making them. She’s studied art, screenwriting, and film production, but she realized her real passion was writing stories for children. She’s the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the award-winning middle grade series Keeper of the Lost Cities, as well as the Sky Fall series for young adults. Her books have been featured on multiple state reading lists, published in numerous countries, and translated into many different languages. She lives in Southern California with her husband and an embarrassing number of cats. Find her online at ShannonMessenger.com.
KEEPEROFTHELOSTCITIES.COM
ALADDIN
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Visit us at simonandschuster.com/kids
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Also by Shannon Messenger
The KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES Series
Keeper of the Lost Cities
Exile
Everblaze
Neverseen
Lodestar
The SKY FALL Series
Let the Sky Fall
Let the Storm Break
Let the Wind Rise
This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
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First Aladdin hardcover edition November 2017
Text copyright © 2017 by Shannon Messenger
Jacket illustration copyright © 2017 by Jason Chan
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ISBN 9781481497404 (hc)
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