“Another far-from-ordinary man. Still, consider all those thousands who are ordinary. They have no wish to be ruled by one such as themselves. Every man knows his fellows to be stupid and venal, selfish and vain, lacking intelligence—while at the same time he considers himself to be unlike his neighbors, and congratulates himself on how smart he is to recognize their flaws and not share them. Secretly, though, he knows he hasn’t the education, the noble bloodlines, the money—whatever he believes to be necessary in a ruler. His real desire is to look up to a man smarter, braver, stronger, shrewder than he. A superior man.”
“A word of caution, Your Grace. Should anyone present himself as that man, these ordinary men will seek to kill him.”
“But present yourself as unwillingly being that man—convince those you wish to rule that you are just like them but for this accident of nature, this random gift of gifts beyond their own that you must use, having seen the suffering all around you—present yourself as better but not superior to these ordinary men, and they will smile and cheer and follow you.”
“And then, because you are indeed superior, you may treat all other men, both your enemies and those you rule, as inferiors. In short, as prey.”
“Exactly.”
“Which doesn’t do anything to negate the fact that now you owe Silversun a debt.”
“Which I will honor. I did try, you know. Touchstone is in financial difficulties. They refused.”
“You should have just paid everything off without telling them. You could have found out to whom they owe what sums, and—”
“Young men have their pride, Emmot. Besides, this way is better. Can you imagine how hard they’ll have to work for the next year? Can you imagine that they will be able to do that work without thorn?”
“Hmm. A good point. Pun intended.”
“So you’re in better humor now?”
“Enough wine, and the prospect of watching the Elf destroy himself, seems to have had a salutary effect. I gather, by the way, that you have utterly given up on bringing Cayden into the fold.”
“Unless someone he cares for is threatened, he will never tell me the truth of his visions. And even when that threat exists, he will still attempt to lie. I could never trust him. Not the slightest word he said could be trusted.”
“Forgive my laughter, Your Grace, but do you seriously think you can trust Black Lightning?”
“Of course not. Or, rather, I can trust them to do what benefits them and advances their various adolescent ambitions. Much more reliable, really, and easier to discern than trying to keep track of who Silversun loves and what he’s willing to do for them—and that isn’t even to mention his morality and his scruples.”
“Ah well. He would have been useful.”
“Since he cannot be that, he must be rendered useless.”
“In favor of other, less potent but more reliable tools. Speaking of which, shall we remove to Great Welkin for further festivities? I told them midnight, which annoyed Spangler. He wanted to stay at the celebrations and get as drunk as he possibly could.”
“It’s at least an hour past midnight.”
“The timing was only a sop to their imaginations. It can be done at any hour of the day. But these little details mean so much to the ignorant.”
“True. The ballroom, then.”
“The Archduchess is remaining at the Palace tonight?”
“Yes. Ah, if only she knew the uses to which we’ll put her pretty painted ballroom tonight!”
“If only she knew what is in her own bloodlines, that we have reclaimed for your children.”
“And won’t it be interesting to see how those bloodlines play out! Do you need a hand, or can you stand up on your own?”
“Your Grace, I have never been so drunk that I could not preside over a ceremony of any kind—especially of this kind.”
THE PLAYERS
(most of them, anyway)
Bellgloss, Master purveyor of thorn
Blackpath
Alaen lutenist
Briuly Alaen’s cousin; lutenist
Bowbender
Airilie Jeska’s daughter
Jeschenar masquer, Touchstone
Challender, Mirko tregetour, Crystal Sparks
Coldkettle, Lord Prince Ashgar’s private secretary
Crowkeeper, Herris fettler, Black Lightning
Czillag
Chattim glisker, the Shadowshapers
Deshenanda his wife
Daggering, Lederris masquer, Crystal Sparks
Eastkeeping
Lord Kelinn Vrennerie’s husband
Lady Vrennerie lady-in-waiting to Princess Miriuzca
Emmot Sagemaster; Cade’s teacher, now retired
Fairwalk, Lord Kearney Touchstone’s manager
Fluter, Tobalt reporter, The Nayword
Goldbraider, Vered tregetour and masquer, the Shadowshapers
Grainer
Chirene Sakary’s wife
Sakary fettler, the Shadowshapers
Henick, Cyed Archduke
Panshilara his wife, the Archduchess
Highcollar
Lord Isshak Lady Jaspiela’s father
Lady Kiritin Lady Jaspiela’s mother; born Blackswan
Kevelock, Rauel tregetour and masquer, the Shadowshapers
Knottinger, Thierin tregetour, Black Lightning
Longbranch, Trenal tregetour, Hawk’s Claw
Mistress Caitiffer Mieka’s mother-in-law
Mistress Gesha Trollwife at Shellery House
Mistress Luta Trollwife in Seekhaven
Mistress Mirdley Trollwife at Redpebble Square
Mistress Tola Trollwife; friend of Mistress Mirdley’s
Mistress Wingdove innkeeper in Lilyleaf; “Croodle”
Needler, Romuald the Shadowshapers’ manager
Oakapple, Lord distant cousin of the Blackpaths
Piercehand, Lord Rolon owner of Castle Eyot; compulsive collector
Robel Yazz’s wife; part Giant
Seamark, Kaj masquer, Black Lightning
Silversun
Cadriel Zekien’s father; Master Fettler
Cayden tregetour, Touchstone
Derien Cade’s younger brother
Lady Jaspiela Cade and Dery’s mother; born Highcollar
Zekien their father
Spangler, Pirro glisker, Black Lightning
Staindrop, Brishen Mishia’s sister
Tawnymoor, Lord Princess Iamina’s husband
Threadchaser
Crisiant Rafe’s wife; born Bramblecotte
Rafcadion fettler, Touchstone
Mistress Rafe’s mother
Master Rafe’s father; baker
Warringheath, Master owner of the Kiral Kellari
Windthistle
Barsabias Hadden’s great-uncle; “Uncle Breedbate”
Blye Jed’s wife; born Cindercliff; glasscrafter
Cilka Mieka’s sister
Hadden Mieka’s father
Jedris Jez’s twin brother
Jezael Mieka’s brother
Jinsie Mieka’s twin sister
Jindra Mieka’s daughter
Jorie Tavier’s twin sister
Mieka glisker, Touchstone
Mishia Mieka’s mother; born Staindrop
Mistress Windthistle Mieka’s wife; born Caitiffer
Petrinka Cilka’s twin sister
Sharadel Hadden’s great-grandmother; born Snowminder
Tavier Mieka’s youngest brother
Yazz Touchstone’s coachman; part Giant
THE ROYALS
Ashgar Prince; heir to the throne
Iamina Princess; King Meredan’s younger sister
Meredan King of Albeyn
Miriuzca Princess; Ashgar’s wife
Roshien Queen of Albeyn
GLOSSARY
aflunters in a state of disorder; discombobulated
backspang a tricky evasion
&n
bsp; blodder to flow with a gurgling sound
bonce head
brach a hound bitch
breedbate someone who likes to start arguments or stir up quarrels
bully-rook a bragging cheater
caitiff witch
carkanet necklace
chavish the sound of many birds chirping or singing at once; the sound of many people chattering at once
clinquant glittering
clumperton clownish, clumsy lout
cogger false flatterer; charming trickster
Consecreations, the consecrate collided with creation; the local holy book
crambazzle worn-out, dissipated old man
cullion rude, disagreeable, mean-spirited person
fliting an exchange of invective, abuse, or mockery, especially one in verse set forth between two poets
frustle to shake out and exhibit plumage
giddiot “giddy” and “idiot”
ginnel a narrow passage between buildings
glunsh to devour food in hasty, noisy gulps; by extension, a glutton
grinagog person with a stupid, gaping grin
grouk become gradually enlivened after waking up
hindering a warding put on an individual’s magic so it cannot be used
kagged mutilated Elfen ears
naffter stupid person
pantomancer person who sees omens in all events
pillicock idiot
poofter silly, effeminate man
quakebuttock (aw, come on—isn’t it obvious?)
quat a pimple; used in contempt of a person
quod jail
quoob eccentric fool
stitch up frame
tiring room from retire; a private chamber
yark vomit
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Melanie Rawn is the author of the bestselling Dragon Prince trilogy and of the Dragon Star trilogy. She graduated from Scripps College with a BA in history, and has worked as a teacher and editor. Rawn lives in Flagstaff, Arizona.
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