Also by Sherwood Smith:
The History of Sartorias-deles
INDA
THE FOX
KING’S SHIELD
TREASON’S SHORE
BANNER OF THE DAMNED
The Dobrenica Series
CORONETS & STEEL
BLOOD SPIRITS
REVENANT EVE
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Coming in Fall 2012 from DAW Books
Copyright © 2012 by Sherwood Smith.
All Rights Reserved.
Jacket Art by Matt Stawicki.
Book designed by Elizabeth Glover
ISBN: 978-1-101-57993-0
DAW Books Collector’s No. 1581.
DAW Books Inc. is distributed by Penguin Group (USA).
All characters in the book are fictitious.
Any resemblance to persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal, and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.
First Printing, April 2012
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.
for Hallie O’Donovan
A
CKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thanks to:
Francesca Forrest, Pilgrimsoul, Beth Bernobich, Amanda Weinstein,
and especially to:
Kate Elliott, Hallie O’Donovan, and Rachel Manija Brown
for duty above and beyond.
Table of Contents
Part One: Court
One: Of the Scribes’ First Rule
Two: Of the Second Rule
Three: Of the Hierarchy of Style
Four: Of White Linen and Ignorance
Five: The Dangers of an Unguarded Smile
Six: Of Honeyflower Wine and Lily-Bread
Seven: Of the Price of Style
Eight: Of a Disinterested Impulse
Nine: Of Cats and Golden Cages
Ten: Of Sartor and Gargoyles
Eleven: Of Love and Power
Twelve: Of the Rafalle
Part Two: Love
One: Of Rumbles in the Distance
Two: Of Silver Coronets
Three: Of the Great Map
Four: Of Roses in Bloom
Five: Of Roses Undone
Six: Of Porcelain Shards
Seven: Of Spiced Wine
Eight: Of Royal Wagers
Nine: Of Water and Magic
Ten: Of Fire and Water
Eleven: Of Summer Thunder
Twelve: Of Horses in Flight
Part Three: Colend Goes to War
One: Of White Ribbons
Two: Of Veiled Plays
Three: Of Silver Trumpets
Four: Of Empty Hands
Five: Of a Black Coat
Six: Of a Lock of Hair
Seven: Of Royal Veils
Eight: Of the Risks of Shared Mirth
Nine: Of Images and Expectation
Ten: Of the World of Books
Eleven: Of Secrets and Empty Rooms
Part Four: Magic
One: Of Foresight and the Serving of Food
Two: Of Patterns Visible and Invisible
Three: Of an Act of War
Four: Of the Merciless Melody
Five: Of Rocks in the Sea
Six: Of the Patient Willow
Seven: Of Banners in the Wind
Eight: Of Isolated Vision
Nine: Of Secrets within Secrets
Ten: Of the Riding Moon
Eleven: Of Mercy
Part Five: The Fox Banner
One: Of Hymns and Beginnings
Two: Of the Snap of a Fan
Three: Of Regret and Remembered Bells
Four: Of Turned Cuffs and Moustaches
Five: Of Lightning Rutilant
Six: Of Secrets and Syncretics
Seven: Of the Adumbrations of Power
Eight: Of the Fox Banner Unfurling
Nine: Of Lasva-Gunvaer’s Ride
Ten: Of Renascence
Eleven: Of Sartor’s Shadow
Twelve: Of the Lineaments of Lace
Part Six: Glory
One: Of the Vagaries of Fame
Two: Of Memory’s Enchantment
Three: Of Cinnamon and Zathumbre
Four: Of a Notched Trunk
Five: Of Swords and the Absence of Cats
Six: Of Swords and the Presence of Cats
Seven: Of a Tapestry Sketch
Eight: Of Evil Mages
Nine: Of the Mutability of Time
Ten: Of a Witnessed Glance
Eleven: Of the Banner and Damnation
Twelve: Of my Surrender
The End
ONE
O
F THE
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CRIBES’
F
IRST
R
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