Praise forMICHELLE SAGARAand THE CHRONICLES OF ELANTRA series
Cast in Shadow First-rate fantasy. Sagaras complex characterizations and rich world-building lift her above the crowd. New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong
Intense, fast-paced, intriguing, compelling
and hard to put down unforgettable.
In the Library Reviews
Cast in Courtlight Readers will embrace this compelling, strong-willed heroine with her often sarcastic voice. Publishers Weekly
Packed with action and adventure integrating the conventions
of police procedurals with more fantastic elements.
Romantic Times BOOKreviews
Cast in Secret The impressively detailed setting and the books spirited heroine are sure to charm romance readers as well as fantasy fans who like some mystery with their magic. Publishers Weekly
Remarkable Filled with time-release plot threads and intricate
details, these books are both mesmerizing and unforgettable.
If youre a fan of rich fantasy, this is the series for you!
Romantic Times BOOKreviews, Top Pick (4½ stars)
About the Author
MICHELLE SAGARA has written twelve novels since 1991, when her first book, Into the Dark Lands, was published. Shes written a quarterly book review column for the venerable Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction for a number of years, as well as dozens of short stories (or novellas, to be more exact).
In 1986 she started working in an SF specialty bookstore, where she continues to work to this day. She loves reading, is allergic to cats (very, which means they crawl all over her), is happily married, has two lovely children, and has spent all of her life in her native Torontonone of it on Bay Street.
She started reading fantasy almost as soon as she could read, and fell instantly in love with Narnia; her next fantasy discovery was Patricia McKillips Forgotten Beasts of Eld. She moved on to The Hobbit, which led to her discovery of the life-changing The Lord of the Rings.
Her greatest hope for her writing is that someone will read it and be moved by the same sense of magic and mystery that she finds in the books she loves.
She will talk about writing, bookselling and books forever if given a chance. Youve been warned.
Cast in
Fury
Michelle Sagara
www.mirabooks.co.uk
For Daniel, Ross, Jamie and Liam
CHAPTER 1
Private Kaylin Neya was on time for work and the world hadnt ended.
A few peoples lives, on the other hand, were in question. The amount of sarcasm Clint could put into shocked silence wasnt illegal. Yet. But Kaylin had to grudgingly admit, as she glared her way past his lowered halberd and into the Halls of Law, the wings he extended were a nice touch.
The Aerie was almost empty, but it usually was at this time of day; the halls themselves were suspiciously quiet. Then again, maybe the Swords were actually earning their pay instead of milling around the halls looking smug. Even on her bleariest mornings, Kaylin couldnt have missed the tension and worry that seemed to permeate the city streets recently, and keeping the peace, such as it was in a crowded city, was their job. For a change. The day was already looking brighter. She glanced up as a shadow passed her, and saw a lone Aerian traversing the space high above; he wasnt practicing maneuvers, and his wings were extended for a steady glide. She still envied the Aerians their wings, a little.
She felt a smidgen of sympathy for the Swords but didnt let it show. Much. It wasnt often that the entire city had almost created a new sea coast by the simple expedient of being under most of the surrounding water. She was certain that stories and rumors about the larger-than-Imperial-edict tidal wave that had almost destroyed the harborfor a starthad already been making the rounds, and growing bigger, if that was even possible, with each telling.
She was waved throughwithout sarcasmwhen she approached the guards that separated the Hawks quarters from those of the Wolves or the Swords. The halls were vacant, and even the duty roster seemed to have gathered no darts.
Oh, come on, guys, she said, when the entire office stopped as she entered and approached Marcuss desk. Im not always late. Dont you have anything better to do?
Have you checked the duty roster, dear? Caitlin asked, from the safety of her desk. Not that she was ever in any danger; if the office had a collective mother, it was Caitlin.
Oh. No. She turned and, at Marcuss bark of a command, turned back. Marcuss growl was low, and it was short. He must be tired. And a tired Leontine was generally best kept happy by little displays of obedience. Or big ones.
The paperwork on his desk hadnt really diminished but also, to Kaylins admittedly inexpert eye, hadnt grown; the emergency that had pulled a number of his Hawks out of their normal routine had been resolved; there was no Festival for almost another year. She couldnt quite see what would put him in a mood, but the fact that he was in one was obvioushaving facial fur that bristled when you were ticked off was a dead giveaway. Having fangs that were almost as long as her fingersthe exposed parts of the fangs, at any ratewas another.
She came to stand a safe distance from the side of his desk, and waited. She even waited quietly.
Her reward? He lifted a stack of paper off his desk and dumped it in her hands. This, he said curtly, is your problem.
She looked down at what she had assumed were reportsor worse. The paperwork required of the office was, by all accounts, more arcane than any of the magic it also required. To punctuate this, the window very sweetly told the entire office what the hour was.
Kaylin really hated the window. There was money riding on how long it would take someone to accidentally break it, and money riding on who would have the accident. There werent many rules that governed office bets, but one of them was that you couldnt place money on yourself. Which was fair but, in Kaylins case, prevented her from winning much.
Well? Are you going to stand there all day?
Kaylin looked down at the first sheet in the stackand it was a large stack. No, sir.
Good. Take note of the rosteryour rounds have been changed.
Since when? I checked it last night.
Since then, obviously.
She caught Caitlins frantic gestures out of the corner of her eye, and nodded. She considered going to the roster by way of Caitlins desk, but since they were in opposite directions and Marcus could watch you while his back was turned, she decided to actually go to the roster instead.
Her shoulders did a severe downturn when she saw what had been written beside her name. Even Severns name, at the same location, didnt bring much cheer. The Imperial Palace?
Dont make that face, Teela said, in her left ear.
Barrani could walk in perfect silence, but it took work, and Teela was usually too damn lazy. Kaylins little start did not, however, cause her to drop the bundle of paper. Given Marcuss mood, that was good.
Whats eating Marcus?
Teela shrugged, long black hair rising and falling like a perfect curtain. Kaylin tried not to resent the fact that the Barrani werent governed by any Hawk regulations when it came to anything they wore. Regulations were, after all, supposed to be practical and as far as Kaylin could tell, Barrani hair never tangled, never got caught in anything, and never got in the way.
And they were gorgeous and lived forever. If it werent for the fact that they adored politicspreferably with blood and deaththeyd be insufferable.
Hes Ironjaw, Teela said. But hes been in that mood since late last night. Her tone of voice made it clear that it was serious enough that Kaylin should change the subject now, and Kaylin had known Teela for so many years it wasnt possible to misinterpret.
Figures. Save a city, get sent to the Imperial Palace.
Its more impressive than being sent to the docks or the Commons.
More people to offend.
True, and some of them are significant. Teela smiled. In all, it wasnt a happy expression. Have you even taken a look at what youre holding?
I just got it, Teela.
You might want to read it over, the Hawk replied. Severns waiting in the West room. And so is the Dragon.
The Dragon was generally known by the rank and file as Lord Sanabalis. One of Four Dragon Lords that comprised the Dragon contingent of the Imperial Court, he was also a member of the Imperial Order of Mages. He had graciously come out of teaching retirement to take on one pupil, that pupil being Kaylin herself. She tried to remember to be grateful, and usually succeeded when she wasnt actively staring at a candle wick in a vain attempt to get it to catch fire.
Which, come to think, was most of the time.
But she knew her lesson schedule more or less by heart now, and none of those lessons started at the beginning of her day. Given her nocturnal activities, and the desire of the Hawks not to annoy the mages, Marcus had forbidden any lesson that started before lunch. It gave her a decent chance of not missing any.
So Sanabalis wasnt here to teach her anything new about candles. She pushed the door openit was open, so she didnt have to go through her daily ritual of teeth-grinding while waiting for the doorward to magically identify herand saw that Severn and Sanabalis were seated across the rooms only table, talking quietly.
They stopped when they saw her, and she slid between the door and its frame, dropping the stack of paper on the tabletop.
Marcus is in a mood, she told Severn.
Its better than yours.
Im not in a She stopped. You mean better than mine will be?
Pretty much. Take a seat. Lord Sanabalis is here to inform us of our duties, and to escort us to the man well be aiding.
When Severn spoke Barrani, it was generally a bad sign. Lord Sanabalis, on the other hand, almost always spoke in Barrani.
We dont have to talk to the Emperor, do we? she said, sinking into the chair slowly. It was rock hard and weighed more than she did.
No, Lord Sanabalis replied. Unless something goes gravely, gravely wrong, the Emperor has more important duties to attend.
Does this mean theres no lesson today?
There will be, as you say, no lesson for the course of your duties at the Palace.
Well, thats something. Who are we investigating?
Severn hesitated.
Investigating? Sanabalis replied, raising a brow. I rather think, if you were sent to investigate someone, the last place the Hawks would agree to second you would be the Imperial Palace. As you should know, the Imperial Guards deal with any difficulties that arise in the Palace. And they do not arise.
Yes, Sanabalis. She hesitated. What are we doing there, then? Were not exactly guard material
One of his silver brows rose into his thinning hairline.
Fair enough; if the Imperial Guard would be offended at outside investigators, they would probably completely lose it at outside guards. So were not there as investigators, were not there as guards. Are we there as Hawks?
In a manner of speaking.
She grimaced. That usually means no.
You are Hawks or you could not be seconded in this fashion. You are not, however, there as representatives of the Law.
The old bastard looked like he was enjoying himself. Exactly how he conveyed this, Kaylin wasnt quite certainhis expression was neutral enough, and his voice was smooth as glass.
So what are we there as?
As Cultural Resources, he replied smoothly.
As what?
Cultural Resources.
I heard you. What exactly does that mean?
Ah. Have you taken a moment to peruse the documents you placed upon the table?
No.
Id advise you to do so. We are not expected at the Palace until after lunch. I felt, given the unpredictability of your schedule, that this was wisest.
But
Many of the questions you are no doubt impatient to ask will be answered by even the briefest of perusals.
She wondered if he were a betting man, or Dragon. But given Dragons in general, she doubted it.
If it eases your mind, Private Neya, Sergeant Kassan is required to pay you for the time you spend seconded to the Palace. He also, he continued, lifting a hand to stop her from speaking, expects you to report in each morning.
For some reason, he is concerned about the assignment. I cant imagine why.
Act One, Scene One. Kaylin looked at Severn. Act One, Scene One?
Its a play, Severn said, shrugging slightly. The left corner of his mouth was turned up in something that hinted at amusement. Youre familiar with plays?
Kaylin snorted. She read the description of stage materialsmostly the painted facades of buildings and bushes, in different sizes. And, she thought, in odd colors. Poynters road?
Severn nodded. Its
I know where it isbut the buildings dont look anything like that on Poynters.
Kaylin
No, Corporal Handred, allow her to speak freely. It will, in theory, get it out of her system.
You want me to read a play?
Not exactly. The play itself is not complete, or not complete to our satisfaction. The authors name might be familiar to you. He raised one brow.
Richard Rennick. She looked at Severn. Should we know him?
Hes the Imperial Playwright, Severn told her quietly. The position is held by one Playwright every five years. Theres usually a competition of some sorta series of different plays staged for the Emperor. He apparently won, three years ago.