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Chapters (50)
  1. Praise for
  2. Title Page
  3. Dedication
  4. City of Mariit: Capital of Maynara Map
  5. One
  6. One
  7. Two
  8. Three
  9. Four
  10. Five
  11. Six
  12. Seven
  13. Eight
  14. Nine
  15. Two
  16. Ten
  17. Eleven
  18. Twelve
  19. Thirteen
  20. Fourteen
  21. Fifteen
  22. Sixteen
  23. Three
  24. Seventeen
  25. Eighteen
  26. Nineteen
  27. Twenty
  28. Twenty-One
  29. Twenty-Two
  30. Four
  31. By Order of General Ojas,On Behalf of Her Majesty Hara Duja
  32. Twenty-Three
  33. Twenty-Four
  34. Twenty-Five
  35. Twenty-Six
  36. Twenty-Seven
  37. Twenty-Eight
  38. Twenty-Nine
  39. Thirty
  40. Thirty-One
  41. Thirty-Two
  42. Thirty-Three
  43. Five
  44. A Coronation Prayer
  45. Thirty-Four
  46. Epilogue
  47. Acknowledgments
  48. Thank You
  49. About the Author
  50. Violetear Books x Bindery Books

She remained on the balcony long after he left. She stayed there until the sun disappeared and fat droplets splattered against her brow. She looked up in alarm. Rain clouds swirled above her head, casting shadows on the gardens below. They descended upon the palace’s tiered roofs, thicker than mountain mist. Laya had summoned them unintentionally.

She closed her eyes, then exhaled slowly through her nose. The tension ebbed from her shoulders. The clouds dispersed as the threads of power slithered from her grip. A light breeze whooshed past her ear, tender as Luntok’s lips along the side of her neck. When she opened her eyes, Luntok was still gone. Sunlight shone brightly overhead, glaring off the golden finials lining the rooftops, blinding her.

Laya shouldn’t have fallen in love with Luntok Kulaw. She had always known better.

“Fool,” she murmured, even though there was no one around to hear.

To His Royal Highness, Hari Aki,

Twice now, you have rejected my offers of assistance. I implore you, old friend, to reconsider. Please forgive my terseness. You favor a gentler hand, but you know as well as I do that subtlety was never my strong suit.

You made your reservations abundantly clear in your previous letter, and I will not challenge them. You have every reason to doubt me. My words alone cannot convince you.

Instead, would you listen to the words of an honest messenger? Despite your many rejections, I have brought him to Maynara as evidence of my goodwill.

You must speak to him, Aki. For he is a man many on this side of the Untulu Sea call an alchemist. He holds the key to abiding glory. I believe he is the answer Duja has been searching for.

I dare not lie to you, old friend. If you refuse to accept my messenger, what more proof can I give? Know that I pen these words with steady fingers. And, should you decide to meet me, I will stand and greet you on sturdy legs.

If you love the queen, as I believe you do, you will meet him. I beg you to meet him. After I receive your reply, I will send him to you. He can help Duja more than you or I ever could.

My previous letters did not convince you. Let me tell you this: I care not for myself, but for my sister. A lifetime has passed since I left Maynara⁠—everything I’ve done in the years since, I’ve done for her.

This is the truth, Aki, whether or not you choose to believe me.

All my love to Duja and the children,

Pangil

Three

line

Duja

The queen hadn’t meant to pry.