New York Times bestselling author Michelle Sagara returns to the city of Elantra with a thrilling tale rife with ancient magic, assassination attempts and political intrigue.
Private Kaylin Neya already has Dragons and Barrani as roommates. Adding one injured, flightless Aerian to her household should be trivial. Sure, the Aerian is Sergeant Moran dar Carafel, but Kaylins own sergeant is a Leontine, the definition of growly and fanged. She can handle one Aerian.
But when a walk to the Halls of Law becomes a street-shattering magical assassination attempt on the sergeant, Kaylin discovers that its not the guest whos going to be the problem: its all of the people who suddenly want Moran dar Carafel dead. And though Moran refuses to tell her why shes being targeted, Kaylin is determined to discover her secret and protect her at all costseven if keeping Moran safe means dealing with Aerian politics, angry dragons and something far more sinister.
Praise for New York Times bestselling author MICHELLE SAGARA and The Chronicles of Elantra series
No one provides an emotional payoff like Michelle Sagara. Combine that with a fast-paced police procedural, deadly magics, five very different races and a wickedly dry sense of humorwell, it doesnt get any better than this.
Bestselling author Tanya Huff on The Chronicles of Elantra series
Readers will embrace this compelling, strong-willed heroine with her often sarcastic voice.
Publishers Weekly on Cast in Courtlight
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 on Cast in Secret
Along with the exquisitely detailed world building, Sagaras character development is mesmerizing. She expertly breathes life into a stubborn yet evolving heroine. A true master of her craft!
RT Book Reviews (4½ stars) on Cast in Fury
Each visit to this amazing world, with its richness of place and character, is one to relish.
RT Book Reviews (4½ stars) on Cast in Silence
Another satisfying addition to an already vivid and entertaining fantasy series.
Publishers Weekly on Cast in Chaos
Sagara does an amazing job continuing to flesh out her large cast of characters, but keeps the unsinkable Kaylin at the center.
RT Book Reviews (4½ stars) on Cast in Peril
Über-awesome Sagara picks up the intense action right where she left off... While Kaylin is the heart of this amazing series, the terrific characters keep the story moving. An autobuy for sure!
RT Book Reviews (4½ stars) on Cast in Sorrow
Cast in Flight
Michelle Sagara
www.mirabooks.co.uk
To the denizens of the War Room, without whom writing would be a much, much more isolatedand isolatingactivity.
Contents
Cover
Back Cover Text
Praise
Title Page
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Extract
Copyright
Chapter 1
Morning was not Kaylins friend.
Helens Avatar stood in front of the open bedroom door, her expression as pinched as it ever got. Sentient buildings were in most ways a living marvel, but they definitely had their drawbacks.
Im not hungry, Kaylin told Helen as she dragged herself out of bed. I need sleep more than I need food. She could see only one of her shoes. Is there anything you can do about Nightshade and Annarion? I never thought Id say this, but Dragons roaring at each other at the top of their lungs was more peaceful.
Im sorry, dear. Ive done what I can to isolate the noise in the house, but Annarions voice travels through most of my barriers.
Its not just Annarion. I can hear every word Nightshade is saying.
That would be because you bear his mark, dear. He cant control you through it while hes under my roof, but the connection is still active.
Kaylin reached up to touch her cheek. Nightshades mark looked like a tattoo of a small flower, and shed had it for long enough she was barely aware of it, except in moments like these.
Helen looked down at her hands, which werent really hands; Helen was a building. Her Avatar appeared to be human. It wasnt. Clearing her throat was also an affectation, and she did that, as well. Regardless, breakfast is an important meal. You have work today. You need food. Helens Avatar folded her arms. As far as Helen was concerned, this was a fight worth having, and as it happened, Helen won all these fights.
The winged lizard flapping around Kaylins face in obvious annoyance made it hard to pull clothing over her head. Kaylin swatted halfheartedly at her familiar.
Thats what buttons are for, dear. If you unbuttonedand foldedyour clothing, getting dressed would be less chaotic.
Small and squawky settled on Kaylins left shoulder with a little more claw than usual. I used to daydream about having an older brother, she said as she spied the missing shoe under her bed. If nothing else, this has cured me of that.
I have a question.
Of course she did. What?
Annarion is upset at his older brother.
Clearly.
He is not saying anything that you have not said, or thought, yourself. He dislikes the governance of the fief of Nightshade.
Dislike was far too mild a word.
You hate it.
Kaylin exhaled. I grew up there. Barely. I survived. But a lot of peoplea lot of kidsdidnt. When I see what Tiamaris has done with his own fief, its very clear to me that life in Nightshade didnt have to be like that. Nightshades the fieflord. He could have chosen to do what Tiamaris is doing. The fief is his. So yes, I agree with every single word Annarions been saying. Or shouting. Or screaming.
But you feel pain on Nightshades behalf.
Kaylin grimaced. Nightshade spent centuries trying to rescue Annarion. I think he might have killed his father because his father chose to sacrifice Annarion to the green. The only person on earth Nightshade cares about that way is his younger brother. In some ways, his choices revolved around Annarion. Hes outcaste because of those choices.
Getting Annarion back should have been a good thing. And I think it is. But...Annarions so disappointed, so hurt, its caused almost nothing but pain. And that pain? It was killing Kaylins ability to sleep. No one who had half a heart could sleep through the ruckus. To both of them.
And you dont want Lord Nightshade to be in pain.
I think he deserves it, to be honest. But...not from Annarion.
People have always been complicated.
Even the immortal ones?
Especially the immortal ones.
No one with any intelligence wanted to get between two brothers while they were fighting. No one with any sense of self-preservation got between two Barrani when they were fighting. Kaylin hoped fervently that Lord Nightshade had returned to his own castle this morning.
* * *
Kaylin chewed on her thoughts while her familiar chewed on her hair as she walked down the foyer stairs toward the dining room. The dining rooms fancy doors were open, there was food on the table, and she wasas usuallate. Annarion was seated beside Mandoran. If Nightshade was Annarions brother by blood and lineage, Mandoran was a sibling by shared experience. Seated across from Mandoran was Bellusdeo, her golden hair pulled back in a braid that was looped together on the back of her head. Given the slightly orange tinge to her eyes, it was clear she and Mandoran had already started their daily bickering.
Having a Dragon living in the same house as a Barrani whod lost his family to the Draco-Barrani wars was never exactly peaceful.
Before she could enter the dining room, Annarion looked up from his untouched plate. I want to know how you first met my brother.
No, mornings were definitely not her friend.
I dont think, Helen said to Annarion as Kaylin made her waysilentlyto her chair, that Kaylin wishes to discuss your brother at breakfast.
Or ever.
I told him youd say that, Mandoran added, half-apologetically. Half was usually as much as he could muster.
Im surprised he didnt listen, Bellusdeo said, picking up a fork as if it were a fascinating, rarely seen utensil. Usually youre the one who chooses to be selectively deaf. She smiled at Mandoran. Ive come to find it quaintly charming.
Mandorans eyes shifted to a steady, deeper blue, the universal sign of Barrani fear or anger. And he certainly wasnt afraid. As charming as a Dragon in mortal clothing?
Oh, infinitely more so. I assume once youve developed better command of your manners, I will be far less entertained. But I dont expect that to happen in the next decade. Or two.
Mandorans natural dislike of Dragons as a race left Kaylin stranded with Annarion, who was still staring at her. No one could outstare Barrani.
Why wont you speak about my brother? he asked. The question was softly spoken, but his tone made it more of a command than a request for information.
She considered and discarded a number of replies as she began to eat. She wasnt hungry, and even if she had been, Annarions question would have killed her appetite. But shed grown up on the edge of starvation, and she could always eat.
None of her possible replies were good. The truth was, she liked Annarion. He wasfor a Barranihonest, polite, self-contained.
I dont suppose you could ask your brother.
Mandoran took a break from his barbed conversation with Bellusdeo. Hes asked.
Nightshade didnt want to talk about it?
No, he talked about it.
Then whats the problem?
He was lying.
Annarion glared at Mandoran, looking as if he wanted to argue. He turned back to Kaylin instead. I want to know your side of the story. Meaning, of course, that he agreed with Mandorans assessment.