Katy Rose PoolsThere Will Come a Darknesswas one of the most critically-acclaimed young adult fantasies of 2019. read more: Top New Young Adult Books in February 2020
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And here is our exclusive excerpt…
Anton sat up, gasping in the darkness.
His sheets had been pushed off the bed, his neck and forehead damp with cold sweat.
He raised a shaking hand to his face to wipe at a stray tear.
The images from his dream swam behind his eyes.
The Nameless Woman, his grandmother…and the Hierophant.
Or had it been conjured from Antons own terror?
He had never dreamed of the Hierophant in such visceral detail.
Anton knew that was who the masked man was, though hed never actually seen him before.
But it was impossible.
It was a dream, nothing more.
Just his mind churning through its worst fears.
More of the same.
What was he even doing in Kerameikos?
It didnt matter to them what Anton wanted, and it never would.
And if their digging and prodding turned him mad, they wouldnt care, either.
The thought came to him, sudden and inevitablehe could leave.
From there, he would figure the rest out.
He would be alone, but hed been alone his whole life.
Why should now be any different?
In the absence of the forts usual noise, the rush of the river sounded twice as loud.
The storeroom was unlocked, the door slightly ajar.
Anton supposed that as isolated as they were here, they didnt need to worry about petty thieves.
Once inside, Anton tapped on the incandescent light until it illuminated the cavernous storeroom.
He turned the corner to the next row of shelves and peered at a row of unlabeled jars.
He grabbed one at random, opening the lid to sniff at it carefully.
Why is it, a voice spoke from the darkness, that whenever I cant sleep, thereyouare.
Anton jumped, fumbling and knocking a stack of crates into the nearby shelf.
The jar broke open at his feet, spilling salt grains all over the floor.
Anton didnt move to pick it up.
His posture was crooked and slumped, like he was hurt.
You dreaming about me, Jude?
This was, he realized, the first time they had been face-to-face since arriving at Kerameikos.
Since the Tribunal had barred them from seeing each other.
Judes head lolled to the side, his gaze focused on Anton.
First the Hidden Spring, he went on, as if he hadnt heard him.
Then on the ship.
An uncharacteristic bitterness suffused Judes words, and there was something else about his voice that soundedwrong.
The heavy slump of his shoulders.
The slur of his words.
The impossibility of this simple fact rendered Anton speechless for a long moment.
Before arriving in Kerameikos, Anton had assumed all the Paladin abstainedbut it was just Jude.
Until now, anyway.
All right, Anton said, kneeling at Judes side and gently tugging the jug away from him.
I think thats enough.
This wasnt any different, really.
Jude let Anton drag the jug away from him, his eyes unfocused and bleary.
Anton set the jug down behind him.
Why dont we get off the floor?
Jude wiped at the corner of his mouth with his palm.
I am exactly where I belong.
Anton swallowed and pushed himself to his feet.
He stood there, considering Jude for a moment.
What are you doing in here?
Jude asked, as if the question had just occurred to him.
Nothing, Jude, Anton said, hitching the sack up on his shoulder.
Go back to your room and go to sleep.
Judes gaze caught on Antons sack of stolen goods and he lurched to his feet abruptly.
He stood over Anton, his cheeks flushed from the wine and his eyes burning in the dim light.
YouYou cant do that.
Anton set his jaw.
This is where you belong, Jude said sharply.
He wasnt slurring anymore.
Anton retorted, turning to leave.
Jude spun and took a wavering step toward him.
His brows drew into a taut line.
I wont let you do this.
The drunk swordsman who can barely stand up straight is going to stop me?
Jude flinched and then went rigid, steeling himself.
You are the Prophet, he said, raising his voice.
You are destined to fulfill the final prophecy and stop the Age of Darkness.
Yet you turned out to be nothing but a coward.
Youre the one whos so obsessed with your duty, Jude.
You know none of that means anything to me, so why should I pretend that it does?
Anger grew bright in Antons chest and behind his teeth as he met Judes blazing eyes.
Then find someone else, he bit out.
There is no one else!
Jude roared, backing Anton into the shelf.
The scent of sweet wine hit his nose as Jude loomed over him.
You were the one who was meant to do this!
Judes eyes blazed like a storm.
His hands gripped the front of Antons tunic, pinning him in place.
Silence crackled between them.
Its hard, isnt it?
To believe in something so much, only to have it disappoint you.
Jude made a low noise like hed been struck.
His hand fell away from Anton and he stepped back, stricken.
A wave of guilt swelled inside Anton.
He forced it down, adjusting the strap on his shoulder and turning toward the door.
Judes voice sounded behind him, quiet and small.
Theyre going to exile me.
He felt suddenly cold, as if a draft had whisked into the storeroom.Exile?
That was how he looked now.
Back then, it was because Jude had thought he failed the Prophet.
How can they do that?
After everything you did?
After everything you sacrificed?
The oath of the Paladin is sacred, Jude replied.
And I tarnished it.
But you found the Prophet, Anton argued.
They cant just deny He stopped.
Because Anton hadnt proven himself.
And without that proof, Judes sacrifice meant nothing.
Without that proof, he had failed in their eyes.
I will accept the punishment for my mistakes.
Those mistakes had put Jude in Antons path.
Those mistakes had led to Nazirah.
To the top of the tower, to the bottom of the sea.
To Anton finally facing the vision that had haunted him almost his entire life.
And now they meant Jude would lose the one thing that meant anything to him.
Come with me, Anton said suddenly, the words tumbling from his mouth before he could consider them.
He took a step toward him, suddenly overcome with this foolish, reckless possibility.
Leave before they can make you.
But when Jude raised his eyes, Anton saw the hollow resignation in them.
Keeper or not, Jude would stay.
He would accept whatever the Order decided because nothing was more important to him than his duty.
Not even the Last Prophet.
As the Shadow Rises isnow available for pre-order.
It is slated to be released on September 1st, 2020.
