Read Online The Fifth City by Liz Delton - Free Book Online Page A

farther into the beautiful space.  She had never seen living quarters like it.
    A large, wooden bed took up much of the room; its ornately carved posts reached up nearly to the ceiling, supporting a delicate canopy of white silk.  Heavy, blue and gold patterned fabric covered the pillows and blankets, and a sturdy wooden bench sat at the end of the bed, with matching blue and gold padding.
    Directly across from the bed was a simple white stone fireplace, already lit and crackling merrily.  Not a twig out of place, nor a smear of soot marred the hearth.
    To the left of the fireplace, a recessed alcove held a simple table and chairs, which had been laid with food and drink.  Sylvia’s stomach grumbled as the scent of roast meat and warm bread wafted toward her.
    Across from the door, she laid eyes on what she first thought was a window, but it didn’t quite seem to be.  She approached it slowly, and Oliver spoke.
    “A looking-glass, Miss Thorne.  It shows the view from the southern shore.”
    It was framed like a window, and the surface looked smooth, like stone.  But the impossible looking-glass showed a vision of the sea.  The churning, blue-grey waters moved before her eyes.  She reached out to touch it, but glanced over at Oliver, who smiled and nodded.
    Cold stone met her fingertips.  How was it possible?    The smooth stone held a vision of another part of the island, and she was fairly certain she was underground.
    Her heart was humming.  She watched the waves for a moment and gazed at the clouds gently drifting in the wind, until her rumbling stomach pulled her attention back to the present.  She ripped her gaze from the looking-glass and sheepishly turned back to Oliver, whose face held that kind smile.
    “The Trials begin on the morning of the spring equinox,” he began in a very business-like tone.  “Until then, you will stay here in the castle.  Lady Blackwater has asked me to check in on you daily and attend your needs.  Food and drink will be brought to your rooms,” he nodded at the table already laid out.  “You will find sufficient clothing in the wardrobe.”  Sylvia looked around to see a large wooden wardrobe behind the door.
    “And your washroom is behind that door,” he pointed to the closed door on the other side of the fireplace.  With one last smile, he stepped back into the hallway and bid her goodbye, assuring her that he would be back later to check on her.
    Sylvia let out a huge sigh and sank down onto the bench; exhaustion and bewilderment threatening to overwhelm her.  How had she even gotten here?  She and Neve were following the Scouts one minute, the next they’re being tortured on the shore and waking up in dark cells.  Now Neve was gone, and she was sitting in this decadent room, with nothing to do but wait until Winter’s End.  She closed her eyes and leaned her head against the footboard of the bed, but sprung up immediately when she remembered the food.
    She hopped into a seat at the table and ate whatever she could get her hands on, swallowing it down with a glass of cool water from a pitcher.  The pain that had walloped her body on the shore, spending a night unconscious on the floor, and her meeting with Lady Blackwater had all exhausted her.  Once full, she leaned her head against the chair back, and closed her eyes again briefly, her hands resting contented on her stomach.
    Winter’s End wasn’t for another few weeks, so she would do her best to find out as much as she could about Seascape in the meantime.  She had an odd feeling about this city—it felt strange, wrong somehow.  Perhaps it was just because it was so different than the Four Cities.  It felt like there were ancient secrets and strange mysteries lingering in the very air.
    She got up and stretched, then turned to watch the looking-glass again, mesmerized by the view of the waves.  She must complete the Trials—Seascape would be Meadowcity’s greatest ally for survival in