Wings of Sorrow and Bone Read Online Free

tangle in wait of this new life.
    â€œAre you daft ? It’s a beast for the Arena. It’s supposed to tear apart machines. It can kill ­people.”
    â€œIt can barely move. Look at these chains.” Rivka approached in measured steps, a hand outstretched.
    â€œIt has teeth. It’ll bite your arm off. One gulp. Or roll onto you, break all your bones—­”
    â€œWill you kindly shut up? I think the tone of your voice is bothering it.”
    â€œThe tone of my . . . !”
    The creature’s short ears twitched as it glanced between them.
    â€œIt’s okay, it’s okay,” Rivka murmured. “I want to check on you, that’s all. Probably one of the stupidest things I’ve done, but it strikes me as something Octavia Leander would do. But then, she’s a medician. Wait. Did you recognize her name? Do you know Miss Leander?” Each time Rivka repeated the name, the chimera’s entire expression brightened.
    She touched the top of the chimera’s head, the broad span between its long ears. The flesh was smooth yet wrinkled, warm and lightly bristled. She gave a ­couple of quick strokes. The creature’s expression transitioned from shock to squint-­eyed bliss. An unmistakable purr rumbled through her hand.
    The sound of voices carried into the chamber. Rivka turned and sprinted back through the warm veil of the circle.
    â€œHere!” hissed Tatiana. She dragged Rivka behind a wall of crates. Behind them were shelves lined with old hardcover books and clear jars arrayed with a rainbow of herbs.
    Through the gap between crates, they watched a woman enter the room. Her bountiful black hair was constrained by a massive, gold-­threaded snood. Like Miss Leander, she wore the white attire of a medician, with its sparkle of cleansing enchantment, but this newcomer had considerably more style. Her robes were accented by gold trim and ruffles. The thick skirt rustled with each step.
    â€œGet the arms ready.” She motioned to unseen ­people. “Broderick! Get those blankets out of the circle. I told you to stop coddling the beast. It could gnaw on them and choke to death, and I daresay Mr. Cody might gnaw on your bones if anything were to happen at this juncture.”
    â€œI’m sorry, m’lady. I had the sense that it might be cold.” A young man advanced to the edge of the circle. He wore a male version of medician gear, the narrowness of his tunic and trim white trousers revealing his lanky frame.
    â€œSense or not, it can endure the cold. Or learn to.”
    â€œYes, m’lady.” He raised a hand as he murmured something into the circle, then lunged forward to grab blankets by the armful. His hair, woven into a multitude of beaded dreadlocks, chimed and lashed against his shoulders. The chimera didn’t move. The green body of the beast, despite its size, looked like a helpless lump in the center of the room. Its worried expression fixated on the woman in white as she opened several valises.
    Men in Mr. Cody’s blue livery came straight toward the crates where Rivka and Tatiana hid. The two of them retreated, following the wall around the curve of the room and farther from the door. The men opened a large box.
    â€œDamn. I feel the magic’s heat from here,” muttered one.
    â€œThey been praying over these things for weeks. The legs and wings, too. Hours each day.”
    â€œMagic.” One of the workers spat the word and made a slashing gesture of contempt.
    â€œMagic, aye, but I know what I’m placing my bet on next Arena bout.” The fellow jerked his head toward the circle.
    Rivka was simultaneously appalled and fascinated. The research, the blueprints, the tools—­she’d give anything to see what went into a project of this caliber to combine flesh and machine.
    As a team, the men grunted and pulled forth a gleaming copper arm some five feet in length. They carried it