Wings of Sorrow and Bone Read Online Free Page A

into the circle and close to the chimera, then backed off quickly. The chains obviously didn’t make them feel safe. The next arm was pulled out as well.
    A new man entered, rolling a cart of his own. He wore a workingman’s suit, his hat dangling from a pole on the cart. He offered a grunt of greeting as he set up shop beside the medician. He had to be the mechanist. Rivka had heard plenty of old soldiers talk about when their new limbs were attached, how it involved a medician and mechanist working in concert.
    Her outright giddiness was held in check by the terror on the chimera’s face. She desperately hoped the herbs somehow spared the chimera any pain—­surely the medicians would know?
    Rivka knew very little about medician magi and the Lady’s Tree they worshipped. The actual Tree was located somewhere in the Waste—­there had been a battle there a few months before, with Miss Leander involved—­and its ancient magic connected to life all over the land. Circles like the one in the floor were used to concentrate the Lady’s power, and medicians used special herbs to draw on her might to heal.
    The older medician rolled up her sleeves to reveal skin hued like midnight. “Let’s get this done before Cody comes down to gawk at his monster.”
    â€œYes, Miss Arfetta,” said Broderick. He wheeled in a table covered with open valises and massive herb jars. “I can likely finish the wing work afterward. There are a lot of yellow flags to tend to.”
    Rivka bit her fist to hold back a horrified gasp. The little gremlin who had just clutched her hand had been designated a yellow. It must be near death, along with dozens of others. What did the other colors mean? Did she really want to know?
    The circle was activated again and sent a faint wave of heat over Rivka’s skin. Outside the ring, the workers waited with military posture. The medicians began to work, which involved a great deal of muttering and hand-­waving and herb-­sprinkling. The mechanist stared at them and every so often tweaked the mechanical arm or said something too low to hear.
    It was hard to see the creature with ­people in the way, but they occasionally stepped aside, and Rivka could see its face.
    Beady black eyes stared straight at her, unblinking. Its countenance seemed . . . blank. Braced for whatever was to come. Rivka knew that numbness. She’d known it every day for months after Mr. Stout moved her into the bakery. That constant dread of what he’d say. What he’d do. What he’d make her do.
    Rivka twisted her skirt. She should speak up. She should do something. What? A hand gripped her, forced her to stay still and down. Tatiana’s expression reflected dismay as she put a finger to her lips.
    â€œThis is taking forever. It’s as if the Lady doesn’t want to grant us help. Pah!” Miss Arfetta used a cloth to mop her brow. “At least this chimera is smaller than the first one we made. Less flesh, smaller limbs. Agility over brute strength.” She stood back and nodded to herself.
    â€œIt’ll need a smaller jockey then, too, won’t it, m’lady?”
    Beside Rivka, Tatiana fidgeted.
    Miss Arfetta snorted. “Don’t get any ideas, Broderick. You might be skinny as a tram rail, but you’re too tall. Watch out for that jar you—­” Something struck the floor with a loud ping. Her screech rose like a siren. “You clumsy oaf! You spilled pampria all over the floor! You’ll need to sanitize all of it, every shred! Do you have any idea how expensive this is?”
    â€œYes, m’lady! I’m sorry!” He knelt and vanished from Rivka’s line of sight.
    â€œScoop it up. Use that bag there, yes. That kind of mistake could kill someone. You know what happens when you kill a patient?”
    â€œYes, Miss Arfetta. You don’t earn a profit.”
    â€œThat’s right. Now take