Lark Ascending Read Free Page A

my life. And he looked as though he’d been through every trial I had, and worse.
    He swallowed. “I don’t know where to start. God, Lark, I’ve—” His hand moved, as if he’d started to reach out to me before his mind caught up with the impulse.
    I glanced at Oren, who hadn’t moved. “What are you doing out here? Why aren’t you in the Institute with the other architects?”
    â€œThere is no more Institute.” Kris hugged the canteen to his chest as though it were all that stood between him and some abyss yawning before him.
    My breath caught. “What do you mean?”
    â€œThe city’s split in two—the Institute no longer controls it. Half the population is with the architects, behind the barricades. The other half is in open rebellion. It’s all fallen apart, Lark.”
    I stared at him, trying to imagine my precise, orderly city fallen to pieces. “I don’t understand—what happened?”
    â€œThe attack on the Iron Wood took all our reserves. We expected to come back with all the power we’d ever need. We didn’t expect—” He blinked at me, swallowing.
    I knew what he meant. They hadn’t expected me.
    â€œWhen we got back we had nothing,” Kris went on. “The Wall began to falter. People are panicking—word got out that the Institute was hiding a captive Renewable, accusations were flying everywhere. People found out about you, that you were a Renewable and ran away. At least, that’s what they were told. I—” He closed his eyes. “I left the Institute to fight with the rebels. I told them what really happened, what the Institute did to you. They’re on your side; they fight in your name. I couldn’t stand what Gloriette was doing, the lengths she was willing to go.”
    I reached out to lay a hand on Kris’s arm, squeezing it. “But how did you end up out here?” I asked, still trying to absorb all that had happened since I’d defeated the army of machines as they marched on the Iron Wood.
    â€œI was going for help. I volunteered to go—I’d been out here before, I knew how to use the storage crystals to fight the void.”
    â€œBut where—”
    â€œThe Iron Wood.” Kris stared at the fire. His face was thin, exhausted. “I thought that—well, my enemy’s enemy is my friend. The Renewables there have every reason to hate the Institute, and maybe they’d help the resistance if they knew what was happening. I took the last stores of magic we had and went out, but they’re gone. The Iron Wood is empty. Not a single Renewable, no trace.”
    I glanced again at Oren, who met my gaze this time. We knew where the Renewables had gone—they’d gone to join my brother Basil, to seek refuge in Lethe from the architects of my city, in exchange for helping to sustain Lethe with their magic.
    â€œBut that doesn’t matter.” Kris lifted his gaze, speaking in a whisper. “I’ve found something better.”
    A sick dread twisted in my stomach. I knew where he was heading with this. “What do you mean?”
    His arm shifted until he could wrap his fingers around my hand, cradling it between both of his. His touch was warm and solid, no trace of darkness in it. “I found you.”
    â€¢Â Â â€¢Â Â â€¢
    Later, when Kris had fallen into a deep, exhausted sleep, Oren finally moved from where he’d been sitting. Night was coming fast, and the dusk brought with it the scent of night-blooming flowers. The temperature was dropping, a sobering reminder that winter was not far gone, and a late frost could still rise up without warning.
    Nix had returned earlier, confused to find us gone from where it had left us before in the clearing. The little machine had been thrilled to discover his creator there, sharing none of my confusion and suspicion. Nix was now dozing beside Kris’s