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discern some hidden meaning or mysterious text. She sighed, looking up at him. “Why don’t you just tell me?” He paused, cocking his head. Then he opened his mouth. By the waning light of the hearth’s fire, Siri saw something shocking. The God King of Hallandren had no tongue. There was a scar. She could just barely see...
to be worried. Annotations for Chapter 20 Twenty-One Annotations for Chapter 21 Vasher stood atop the palace of the God King, watching the sun drop above the western rain forest. The sunset was vibrant amidst the clouds, colors ﬂaring, beautiful reds and oranges painting the trees. Then the sun disappeared and the colo...
blocks in a steep pyramidal shape. He landed hard on the next block, but his Awakened clothing absorbed some of the shock, acting like a second, external set of bones. He stood up, nodding to himself, then jumped down the other pyramid steps. Eventually, he landed on the soft grass north of the palace, close to the wal...
gates and see if there’s a shelter that’s still taking people in for the night.” Vasher hesitated. Kindness. He hadn’t expected that, for some reason. The emotion made him feel a tad guilty for what he had to do next. He snapped his arm to the side, twitching his thumb twice to make the long finger tassels on his shirt...
yelling about an intruder. Blast! Vasher thought. He yanked the rope, knocking the entangled servant off of his feet again. As the servant tried to stumble to his feet, Vasher dashed forward and wrapped the rope around the man’s hands and body. To his side, the remaining servant ignored both Vasher and his friend. This...
so the difference was tough to see. That’s why Vasher liked to use them. “Fallen Rope,” he said to the creature, its grey eyes looking up at him. The security phrase pronounced, Vasher could now imprint the creature with an order, much as he did when performing a standard Awakening. “Make noise. Run around. Bite people...
turn to throw. Seated behind him were the three others. Lightsong on the left and Lifeblesser—god of healing—in the middle. Truthcall, god of nature, sat on the far right, wearing his ornate cloak and uniform of maroon and white. The three gods were variations on a theme. If Lightsong hadn’t known them well, he would h...
sphere?” Lifeblesser said, standing up. He wore ﬂowing robes of his colors, blue and silver. He selected a green sphere off the rack, then stared at it. “What type of reasoning does a wooden sphere do?” “The circular type, I should think,” Lightsong said lightly. “And, by coincidence, it is my favorite type as well. Pe...
as he waited for the points from his throw to be tabulated. “The Idrians betrayed the treaty, one could say.” “The wrong princess,” Weatherlove agreed. “It gives us an opening.” “Yes,” Truthcall said musingly, “but an opening for what?” “To attack!” Lifeblesser said in his usual, dense way. The other two regarded him w...
way.” “But you’re in the lead!” Truthcall said. “If you leave now, we’ll have to play again next week!” “Your threats roll off of me like water, my divine brother,” Lightsong said, nodding respectfully to each in turn. “I bid you farewell until such time as you drag me up here again to play this tragic game of yours.” ...
each shellfish he slurped made Vivenna cringe for two reasons. Not only did she have trouble believing that anyone would enjoy such slimy, sluglike food, but the mussels were also of a very rare and expensive variety. And she was paying. The afternoon restaurant crowd was large—people usually ate out at midday, when it...
Fob,” Denth said. “You will lose quite a bit this year, should we prove right.” “But,” Tonk Fah said, adding another shell to his stack, “harvest early, sell your stockpiles, and you stand to get ahead of your competitors.” “And what do you gain?” Fob asked. “How do I know those same competitors haven’t hired you to co...
has basic instructions to do what Tonks and I say and I’ve got a security phrase I can use if I need more control.” Vivenna frowned. “Security phrase?” Denth eyed her. “This is a rather heretical discussion we’re getting into. You sure you want to continue?” Vivenna ignored the amusement in his tone. “I still do not li...
outside, as usual, and Vivenna and the two male mercenaries walked in. The meetings were becoming routine. During the last couple of weeks, they’d met with at least a dozen people of varying usefulness. Some were underground leaders Denth thought might be capable of making a ruckus. Others were merchants, like Fob. All...
you’re Grable?” The man nodded. One of the city’s less reputable thieving lords, Vivenna thought. A strong ally of Vahr’s rebellion. They had been waiting weeks to set up this meeting. “Good,” Denth said. “We have some interest in making certain supply carts disappear on the way to the city.” He said it so openly. Vive...
for Vivenna’s shocked mind to follow. Then the motion stopped. Grable remained in his chair. Denth stood poised, his dueling blade sticking through the neck of one of the bodyguards. The bodyguard looked surprised, his hand still on his sword. Vivenna hadn’t even seen Denth draw his weapon. The other bodyguard stumbled...
face. He had the look of a farmer. “Oh, Princess,” the man said, hurrying forward, ignoring the blades. “It is you. I heard rumors, but...oh, you’re here!” Denth shot a look at Tonk Fah, and the larger mercenary reached out, putting a hand in front of the newcomer before he got too close to Vivenna. She would have thou...
Parlin beside her, watching the nearby alleys with suspicion. She could sense Denth and Tonk Fah inside—one of them appeared to be inspecting the basement. She could... She froze. She couldn’t feel Jewels. She glanced to the side, but the shorter woman was there, hands on hips, muttering to herself about being left wit...
gesturing. Thame nervously settled on the stool. “Now,” Denth said, “why don’t you tell us how you found out that the princess was going to be in that particular restaurant today?” Thame glanced from side to side. “I just happened to be walking in the area and I—” Tonk Fah cracked his knuckles. Vivenna glanced at him, ...
“Yes, Your Highness.” Vivenna nodded. “I want to meet with the others.” “Princess—” Denth said, but she silenced him with a glance. “I can gather some together,” Thame said, nodding eagerly. “I promise. I’m known to a lot of the Idrians.” “Good,” Vivenna said. “Because I have come to help. How shall we contact you?” “A...
chuckling. “Are we leaving, then?” Vivenna said, rising. “Nah,” Denth said. “Let’s wait a bit. I’m still not sure that Grable isn’t looking for us. Best to lay low for a few hours.” She frowned, glancing at Denth. Tonk Fah, amazingly, was already snoring softly. “I thought you said that Grable would let us go,” she sai...
use them very often, we find the cheapest ones we can.” I noticed, Vivenna thought, but fell silent, recognizing how stilted her attempt at conversation had sounded. She sat quietly, looking down at her hands, trying to figure out just what had set her on edge. It was more than the fight. The truth was, she was worried...
much for Idris by staying in the city.” “Better than leaving,” Denth said. “Why? “Because if you left, there wouldn’t be anyone to pay me.” She rolled her eyes. “I wasn’t joking,” Denth noted. “I really do like getting paid. However, there are better reasons to stay.” “Like what?” she asked. He shrugged. “Depends, I gu...
that’s just superstition, Princess. Lacking Breath doesn’t change you that much.” “It makes you less kind,” Vivenna said. “More irritable. Like...” “Jewels?” Denth asked, amused. “Nah, she’d be like that anyway. I’m sure of it. Either way, when I’ve sold my Breath, I didn’t feel much different. You really have to pay a...
says something that is mildly suggestive.’” She glanced at him. “Mildly? I invited you to the bedroom. I’d call that blatant.” “I underestimated you,” Lightsong said. “Please continue.” “‘Then Lightsong says something to deﬂect her,’” Blushweaver read. “‘It is so incredibly charming and clever that she is left stunned ...
plush couch, being fanned with large palm leaves by several of her serving men. She didn’t have Blushweaver’s subtle sense of style. There was a skill to choosing bright clothing that didn’t edge into garishness. Lightsong himself didn’t have it—but he had servants who did. Mercystar, apparently, didn’t even know such ...
that it was an Idrian who broke into Mercystar’s palace. Why are you implying that it was?” “And you think it’s just coincidence? Someone sneaks into one of our palaces now, with the war approaching?” “Coincidence.” “And the intruder just happened to pick one of the four Returned who hold Lifeless access Commands? If I...
I’m as easy to read as a book.” He snorted. “Maybe one that hasn’t been translated to Hallandren yet.” “You just say that because you’ve never really tried reading me,” she said, smiling at him. “Though, I must say that there is one thing about dear Mercystar that positively annoys me.” “And that is?” “Her armies,” Blu...
I was too traumatized to take in the details.” “It would be all right if I talked to them?” “If you must,” Mercystar said. “Have I mentioned exactly how thoroughly out of sorts I am? One would think that you’d prefer to stay and comfort me.” “My dear Mercystar,” he said. “If you know anything of me, then you will reali...
“He immobilized one of them with an Awakened rope,” the priest continued. “Then, while one remained behind to delay the intruder, the other two ran for aid. The intruder quickly knocked the remaining man unconscious. At that time, the one who had been tied up was still alive.” The priest glanced at his colleagues. “Whe...
would only be replaced, and the protocols in place would be certain that even the Lifeless armies weren’t without someone to direct them for long. The possibility for retaliation would far outweigh the benefit.” “So you believe that it was a thief?” “Of course not,” Lightsong said. “A ‘common burglar’ with enough money...
the scribes’ quarters. I wonder why the bedchamber is out here, she thought. Outside the main body of the palace, in the black part. Either way, the servants’ section of the palace—God King’s bedchamber excluded—was the last place the scribes expected to be disturbed by their queen. Siri noticed that some of her servin...
~ I told you that they would not let you have the books, the God King wrote. Siri rolled her eyes and ﬂopped back onto the bed. She still wore her heavy evening dress. For some reason, being able to communicate with the God King made her even shyer. She only took off the dresses right before she went to sleep—which, la...
the opposite.” He frowned at her, then furiously erased his board and began writing again. This thing makes no sense. Why not say what you mean? “Because,” Siri said. “It’s just like...oh, I don’t know. It’s a way to be clever when you make fun of people.” Make fun of people? he wrote. God of Colors! Siri thought, tryi...
I would not kill a good person. They must know that. Siri sat back, resting on the plush bed, the fire crackling in the hearth behind them. “I know that, now,” she said. “But nobody else does. They don’t know you, they know only how powerful you are. So they fear you. And so they show their respect for you.” He paused....
many nights together, and there were no children. “And nobody—none of your priests—explained the process to you?” No. What process do you mean? She sat for a moment. No, she thought, feeling her blush deepen. I am not going to have that conversation with him. “I think we’ll talk about it another time.” It was a very st...
is an heir. Bluefingers mentioned a threat to the God King too. That almost makes it sound like the danger comes from the priests themselves. Why would they want to harm their own god? She glanced at Susebron, who was ﬂipping intently through his book of stories. She smiled at the look of concentration on his face as h...
were more rich than the ones in the market up the way. And while there was plenty of foot traffic, people made certain to stick to the slate sidewalks, for carriages were common. This was a wealthy shopping district. No tents. Fewer performers. Higher quality—and more expensive—shops. Vivenna strolled along the perimet...
their planter. And if you’re going to live this compactly, the only way to see nature would be to bring it in. “Help! fire!” Vivenna spun, as did most of the other people on the street. The building Tonk Fah and Parlin had been standing next to was burning. Vivenna didn’t continue to gawk, but turned and looked toward ...
her. “It’s all right,” Vivenna said. “I understand.” “Understand?” Jewels asked. “Understand what?” “They took your Breath,” Vivenna said. “They had no right to do something so terrible.” Vivenna smiled, then withdrew, walking to the stairs. Jewels started laughing. Vivenna stopped, glancing back. “You think you unders...
But don’t pity me for my faith. And don’t presume that you’re better, just because you believe something different.” Vivenna closed her mouth. Obviously, there was no point in arguing. Jewels was in no mood for her sympathy. Vivenna retreated back up the stairs. ~ A few hours later, it began to grow dark. Vivenna stood...
daylight.” “I still don’t understand what good it will do,” she said. “A spice merchant’s shop?” “Not his shop,” Denth said. “His stores. We ruined or carted off every barrel of salt in that cellar. He’s one of only three men who store salt in any great amount; most of the other spice merchants buy from him.” “Yes, but...
two seemingly opposing things at the same time. “What about you, Denth?” she asked. “Are you Hallandren?” “Gods, no,” he said. “Then what do you believe?” “Haven’t believed much,” he said. “Not in a long time.” “What about your family?” Vivenna asked. “What did they believe?” “Family’s all dead. They believed faiths th...
his robes. “Really?” “Yes, Your Grace.” “Fancy that,” Lightsong said, nodding to his servants as they stepped back, leaving him dressed. “Shall we go over your dreams, then?” Llarimar asked. Lightsong paused, an image ﬂashing in his head. Rain. Tempest. Storms. And a brilliant red panther. “Nope,” Lightsong said, walki...
said. Lightsong fell silent. He knew it wasn’t “nothing” to Llarimar. To him, Lightsong wasn’t just giving his impression of art—he was foretelling the future. What did it augur that he liked a depiction of war with such vibrant, brutal colorings? Was it a reaction to his dreams? But last night, he hadn’t dreamed of a ...
wrong. A little thing. A thing most Returned would ignore. Nobody cared. Nobody wanted to care. Who, therefore, would object to Lightsong’s questions? “You’re acting very oddly, Your Grace,” Llarimar said, catching up to him as they crossed the grass, servants following behind in a chaotic cluster as they worked to get...
satisfaction. Instincts he hadn’t known he had drove him to seek out the place where the servant had died. The wood had been replaced—his Heightened eyes could easily tell the difference between the new wood and the old. He walked a little farther. The patch where the wood had turned grey was gone as well, seamlessly r...
well? Lightsong crawled some more, discomforting the servants until the men he had requested were assembled. He stood—letting a couple of his servants dust off his robes—then walked over to the newcomers. The hallway was growing quite crowded, so he shooed them back out into the sunlight. Outside, he regarded the group...
of the shadows, mumbling to himself. It was just an act, though, and when he got close enough, he knocked us both out.” “How?” Lightsong asked. “He grabbed me around the neck with tassels from his Awakened coat,” one of the men said. He nodded to his companion. “Knocked him in the stomach with the hilt of a sword.” The...
I ran for help. Lolan stayed behind.” Lightsong looked at the third man. “You stayed back? Why?” “To help Taff, of course,” the man said. Lying, Lightsong thought. Looks too nervous. “Really?” he said, stepping closer. The man looked down. “Well, mostly. I mean, there was the sword, too...” “Oh, right,” another said. “...
Lightsong said. “Did you see me make that man repent?” “Amazing, Your Grace,” Llarimar said. “So what do you think about their testimonies?” Lightsong said. “Something strange is going on, isn’t it?” “I’m still wondering why you think you should be the one to investigate it, Your Grace.” “It’s not like I have anything ...
the way prophecy works, Your Grace,” Llarimar said. “Don’t you see? You look at a painting and an entire image appears to your eyes. All I see is random strokes of red. The scene you describe—the things you see—are prophetic. You are a god.” “But I saw exactly what the painting was said to depict!” Lightsong said. “Bef...
the moment someone is killed, I leap out of bed and can’t resist poking around. Doesn’t that sound suspicious to you?” Llarimar didn’t look at him. “Colors!” Lightsong swore. “I was someone useful? I was just beginning to convince myself that I’d died in a reasonable way—such as falling off a stump when I was drunk.” “...
The priests do fear that something will happen to Susebron, she thought firmly. They are so eager for me to produce an heir. They claim it’s about the succession, but they went fifty years without bothering. They were willing to wait twenty years to get their bride from Idris. Whatever the danger is, it’s not urgent. A...
newest color combinations. And—of course—there are minstrels.” “What about at that building we went to before?” “The arena, Vessel? I believe there will be games there later in the evening. Contests of physical prowess.” Siri nodded. “Prepare a box. I want to attend.” ~ Back in her homeland, Siri had occasionally watch...
the stone. She’d had to force herself to stop feeling guilty for ruining them, since apparently each dress was burned the day after she wore it. Her servants burst into frantic motion, gathering up furniture and foods, following behind Siri. As before, there were people on the benches below— merchants rich enough to bu...
me, I’m afraid,” he said with an exaggerated sigh. “That could be solved,” Siri said. “Perhaps it would help if you refrained from speaking when others are present. I think I should find you quite amiable in those circumstances.” Lightsong laughed. Not a belly laugh, like her father or some of the men back in Idris, bu...
her, but at his god. To her, he smiled. Maybe they’re not all like Treledees, she thought, smiling back. “The God King’s sacrifice was not an empty gesture, Vessel,” the priest said. “True, diarrhea may not be a great danger to most, but to the elderly and the young it can be quite deadly. Plus, the epidemic conditions...
of death. “I’m not truly an expert on these things, I’m afraid, Vessel,” the high priest continued. “And, I’m afraid that Lord Lightsong is not either. If you press him, he could very well just start making things up.” “Scoot!” Lightsong said indignantly. “That’s slanderous. Oh, and by the way, your hat is on fire.” “T...
couple,” Siri said, glancing down. “There shouldn’t have been—my father always said things like that shouldn’t happen in Idris. Said murder was a thing of...well, Hallandren.” Lightsong chuckled. “Yes, we do it all the time. Quite the party trick. Now, did these policemen investigate the murders?” “Of course.” “Without...
you can skillfully—and honestly—portray yourself as someone they understand, then you’ll begin to fit in. ” Siri frowned. “Take me as an example,” Lightsong said. “I’m a useless fool. I always have been, as long as I can remember—which actually isn’t all that long. Anyway, I know how people regard me. I enhance it. Pla...
with concern—to finally rejoin her. Annotations for Chapter 27 Twenty-Eight Annotations for Chapter 28 “The meeting is set, my lady,” Thame said. “The men are eager. Your work in T’Telir is gaining more and more notoriety.” Vivenna wasn’t sure what she thought of that. She sipped her juice. The lukewarm liquid was addi...
other men slaved to provide for their families. She had no right to sneer at their motivations. Idrians shouldn’t have to seek for work in Hallandren. She didn’t like to admit fault in her father, yet his was not a bureaucratically efficient kingdom. It consisted of dozens of scattered villages with poor highways that ...
becoming surprisingly easy. She was also growing used to moving with the crowds and being part of an underground element. Two months earlier, she would have been indignantly opposed to dealing with a man like Denth, simply because of his profession. She found it very difficult to reconcile herself to some of these chan...
you forgot to mention that in addition to being honest, we’re also clever. And handsome.” “Those both go without saying,” Denth said. Vivenna turned. Tonk Fah had been watching from nearby, ready to provide backup. They were letting her start to take the lead in some of the meetings. “Honest, perhaps,” Vivenna said. “B...
nodded. “Forgers.” Denth eyed her. “You all right with this?” “Denth, during our months together I’ve met with thief lords, murderers, and—most frighteningly—mercenaries. I think I can deal with a couple of spindly scribes.” Denth shook his head. “These are the men who sell the documents, not the scribes who do the wor...
see the side of his face. “That makes it possible. Still hard. What do you want these documents to prove?” “That these particular priests are corrupt,” Vivenna said. “I have a list on this sheet. I want you to make it look like they’ve been extorting Idris for years, forcing our king to pay outrageous sums and make ext...
like you.” She glanced at Denth. “What does that mean?” “It means,” Denth said, “that you shouldn’t let your hair change colors in public, Princess.” Vivenna started, noticing that her hair had shifted from a still, calm black to the red of frustration. Lord of Colors! she thought. I used to be so good at controlling t...
bent her beliefs in order to see that they were preserved? The Breaths were wonderful. It was more than just the beauty or the ability to hear changes in sound and sense intrinsically the distinct hues of color. It was more even than the ability to sense life around her. More than the sounds of the wind and the tones o...
really get a sense of it here, in the lowlands. It’s by seeing them that you know just how insignificant people really are. I mean, no matter how long we worked and built, we could never pile up anything as high as one of the mountains. “They’re rocks, like you said, but they’re not lifeless. They’re green—as green as ...
to some monks sometime,” Siri said. “They should be able to help you with that.” Now you are mocking me. Siri smiled as he looked up at her. There was no hurt in his eyes. He didn’t appear to mind being mocked; indeed, he seemed to find it very interesting. He particularly liked trying to pick out when she was being se...
when I speak of beauty, I must speak of things other than these colors. And you are different. I do not know how to describe it. He looked up, and suddenly Siri was aware of just how close they were to each other. She, only in her shift, with the thin sheet covering her. He, tall and broad, shining with a soul that mad...
the Breath from the old king—killing him—and give it to the new one.” But Returned cannot use their Breath for Awakening, he wrote. So my treasure of Breaths is useless. This gave her pause. She had heard that. “Does that mean only the Breath you’re born with, or does it include the extra Breaths that have been added o...
type. I didn’t really listen to my father or the monks back home, either. Maybe that’s what you need. Someone who would be willing to look beyond your godhood and just get to know you.” He nodded slowly. That is comforting, he wrote. Though, it is very strange to be a god whose wife does not believe in him. Wife, she t...
worked with.” “You think he might come for us?” “I’m not sure,” Denth said. “He could probably find us if he wanted. I don’t know.” Tonk Fah approached across the green as they passed through the D’Denir statues. “Jewels and Clod are on alert,” Tonk Fah said. “None of us see him anywhere.” “What happened to the skin of...
stacked boxes, creating a racket with their collapse. He didn’t know where Denth had found her or how he kept control of her. However, Vasher was sorely tempted to jump down and let Nightblood take her. The deaths the night before had already drawn too much attention. Nightblood was right. Vasher wasn’t good at sneakin...
you make of it?” “I...” she cocked her head. He laughed. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you at a loss for words, my dear.” “I don’t know that I’ve ever seen another god throwing fruit into the air.” “It’s more than this,” Lightsong said, dipping down as he nearly lost one of the lemons. “Today I have discovered that I k...
exactly mean...” “Oh, bother,” she said. “Now you’ve spoiled the moment. I was about to say something very clever, I just know it.” He smiled. “Both of us, at a loss for words in one afternoon. I do believe we’re losing our touch.” “My touch is perfectly fine, which you’d discover if you’d just let me show you.” He rol...
halfway to his lips. What was that? “The city’s Idrians are always creating one crisis or another,” Hopefinder said, waving his fingers dismissively. “What was that disturbance six months ago, the rebel on the outer dye plantations? He died in prison, I recall. Foreign workers rarely provide a stable societal underclas...
have been gods who were fat, he thought, remembering some of the pictures he had seen of Returned who had come before him. There was a time in our culture’s history when that was seen as the ideal...Did Returned looks have something to do with the way society saw them? Perhaps their opinion of ideal beauty? That would ...
During war times, those of us with Lifeless Commands are important. The rest of the time, our opinion rarely matters. “You want my Lifeless? Be welcome to them! I have had no opportunity to use them in eleven years, and I venture that another eleven will pass without incident. I will give you those Commands, Blushweave...
only to her and perhaps a few of her most trusted priests. “And now, I withdraw,” Hopefinder said, standing. “There is a vote this evening at the court. You will attend, Blushweaver, and you will cast your vote in favor of the reformist arguments.” With that, he left. “Why do I feel like we’ve just been manipulated?” L...
juggling lemons fits into it all.” Annotations for Chapter 30 Thirty-One Annotations for Chapter 31 “I feel I have to ask one more time,” Denth said. “Do we have to go through with this?” Denth walked with Vivenna, Tonk Fah, Jewels, and Clod. Parlin had stayed behind at Denth’s suggestion. He was worried about the dang...
middle of the street. “What?” Denth glanced back at her. “This is the Idrian quarter of the city. These slums are called the Highlands, for Color’s sake.” “Impossible,” she snapped. “Very possible,” Denth replied. “I’ve seen it in cities across the world. Immigrants gather, make a little enclave. That enclave gets conv...
in the garb of prostitutes. Some worn-down older people. Vivenna forced on a smile, but it felt insincere, even to her. For their benefit, she changed her hair color to yellow. The color of happiness and excitement. The people muttered among themselves. Thame soon returned and waved her forward. “Wait,” Vivenna said. “...
open chair. Denth and Tonk Fah took up protective places behind her. Vivenna regarded the slumlords. All three were variations on the same theme. The one on the left looked most comfortable in his rich clothing. That would be Paxen—the “gentleman Idrian,” he was called. He’d gotten his money from running brothels. The ...
sister,” Rira said. “A third one, unmarried. Is her hand bargainable? Royal blood could gain my support for your war.” Vivenna’s stomach twisted. “Gentlemen,” she said in her diplomat’s voice, “this is not about seeking personal gain. This is about patriotism.” “Of course, of course,” Rira said. “But even patriots shou...
sense of horror, watching the terrible, grey-faced men wade among the swords and daggers, ignoring wounds. The creatures pulled out their weapons and began to attack. Men yelled and screamed, falling, bloody. Denth moved to defend the mouth of Vivenna’s alleyway. She didn’t know where Jewels had gone. “Kalad’s Phantoms...
three Lifeless advanced on her, weapons drawn. She looked down. A bit of rope, frayed but still useful, sat in the refuse beside her discarded green skirt. Like everything else, the rope called to her. As if it knew that it could live again. She couldn’t sense the Lifeless bearing down on her, but ironically she felt a...
displayed in the restaurant. Clod whipped his sword around and took the third Lifeless in the leg. One of the others, however, rammed his blade through Clod’s stomach. Something clear squirted out both sides, spraying Vivenna. Clod didn’t even grunt as he brought his weapon around and took off a second head. The Lifele...
due to other activities. She stretched. At first, it had been strange to communicate with the God King. As the days progressed, however, it was feeling more and more natural to her. She found his writing—uncertain, unpracticed letters that explained such interesting thoughts—to be endearing. If he spoke, she suspected ...
the bed then gathered up the bedsheets and towed them over to the smoldering fire to burn, as was her daily chore. Exchanges, she thought, watching the sheets catch fire in the large hearth. What do I have to trade or exchange? Not much. It would have to do. She walked over and pulled open the door. As usual, a group o...
“My lady. Have you seen how positively tedious they all can be?” Siri laughed. “No, really,” she said. “Where did the name come from?” “It’s a complete misnomer,” Lightsong said. “Obviously you’re intelligent enough to see that. Our names and titles are assigned randomly by a small monkey who has been fed an exceedingl...
time?” Siri asked. “But you’re immortal!” “Not run out of time,” Lightsong said, holding up his plate. “Of grapes. I hate listening to storytellers without grapes.” Siri rolled her eyes, but continued to eat the grape slices. The storyteller waited patiently. As she looked more closely, she could tell that he wasn’t qu...
firework. Deep reds and blues mixed in the air, blowing around him. “A land of color,” he said. “Because of the Tears of Edgli, the striking ﬂowers of such brilliance that could yield dyes that would hold fast in any cloth.” Siri had never really thought about how Hallandren would look to people who came across the Inn...
fought over these ﬂower petals, that the kingdoms of Kuth and Huth were destroyed by little drips of color.” The petals fell to the ﬂoor. “But only some of the scholars say that, storyteller?” Lightsong said. Siri turned, having almost forgotten that he was with her. “What do the rest say? Why was the Manywar fought in...
others did not. Some kingdoms had weapons others could only envy. “To answer the god’s question, my story claims one other reason for the Manywar: the ability to create Lifeless so cheaply. Before the discovery of the single-Breath Command, Lifeless took fifty Breaths to make. Extra soldiers— even a Lifeless one—are of...
if some say the royal family sought to create Lifeless? Your belief is your own.” “Either way, the Returned took control of Hallandren,” she said. “Yes,” Hoid said. “And they gave it a new name, a variation on the old one. And yet, some still speak regretfully of the royals who left, bearing the blood of the first Retu...
Lifeless from rampaging. Indeed, he sent away Kalad’s Phantoms, which formed the main bulk of the Hallandren army. By doing so, he left his own people powerless. He did so in an effort to bring peace. By then, of course, it was too late for Kuth and Huth. However, the other kingdoms—Pahn Kahl, Tedradel, Gys, and Hallan...
mixed together in the faint breeze. “I only tell stories. This one is known to most. I should think that Her Majesty would like to be aware of it as well.” “Thank you,” Siri said quietly. “It was good of you to speak of it. Tell me, where did you learn such an...unusual method of storytelling?” Hoid looked up, smiling....

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