LITMIR.BIZ

      ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

      With warmest thanks to Paula Guran and Carla Coupe, two superlative editors.

      DRAMATIS PERSONAE

      OLD AMBERLIGHT

      Sfina Head-Shaper, Amberlight, wife to Sarth

      Khira Navy captain, Amberlight, wife to Sarth

      Phatha Telluir sub-clan head, Amberlight, wife to Sarth

      Averion Keranshah House-head, de facto general in

      siege of Amberlight

      Zhee Head of Hafas House, Amberlight

      Sethar Amberlight, Sarth’s teacher, Hafas tower

      Damas Jerish House head, Amberlight

      Eutharie Terraqa House head, Amberlight

      ISKARDA-AMBERLIGHT

      Tellurith Head of Telluir House, leader of Telluir,

      emigrants to Iskarda

      Sarth Born Hafas tower, husband to Tellurith

      Alkhes Outland, husband to Tellurith

      Tez daughter of Sarth and Khira, ex-Navy,

      marble-factor for Iskarda

      Iatha House-steward

      Roskeran Husband to Iatha

      Hanni Head’s secretary, two nieces

      Esrafal sister to Hanni, musician

      Shia Head’s cook, two sisters and a niece

      Zuri Troublecrew Head

      Azo Troublecrew, partner with Verrith

      Verrith Troublecrew, partner with Azo

      Herar husband to Azo

      Ahio Shaper, house head in Iskarda

      Fira Ahio’s second daughter

      Charras Power-shop senior, building planner in Iskarda

      Hayras Cutter’s Head ex officio, one daughter

      Huis Husband to Hayras

      Quetho Power-shop head ex officio

      Zariah Cutter, Iskardan house-head, two daughters,

      house one barrack-half

      Kaina Zariah’s eldest daughter, cutter

      Asaskian 15 years old, Zariah’s second daughter,

      house-keeper in Amberlight

      Kuira Zariah’s sister, divorced from Theraz in Iskarda

      Pheroka Cutter, Charras’ cousin, Telluir sub-clan,

      first generation in the House

      Du son of Pheroka, attempted rapist of Asaskian

      Dhanissa young woman, Telluir house

      Caitha House physician

      Zeara Cutter

      Darthis Village-Head, Iskarda

      Eria Darthis’s daughter

      Zdana Seer, Iskarda

      Krestyr Zdana’s son, bonded to Eria, Darthis’s daughter

      Chasso Potter, Iskarda

      Astakyr Inn-keeper, Market inn, Iskarda

      THE RIVER

      Shuya President of Verrain

      Dinda Ex-tyrant of Cataract

      Antastes Emperor of Dhasdein

      The Empress Quetzistani born, married to Antastes

      Cherisa Dhasdein, Riversend, ex-wife to Halkhes

      Hepan Itinerant worker at Iskarda, Dhasdein

      intelligencer

      Nessis son of Dekos, nephew to Quizir, Dhasdein

      army officer

      Quizir Dhasdein brigade-commander, killed at

      Amberlight

      Kuashir Dhasdein merchant, Cherisa’s father

      Catheor Dhasdein ex-Army soldier, ex-mercenary

      Strethilis Dhasdein sculptor

      Tanekhet Dhasdein noble

      PART I

      DIASPORA

      CHAPTER I

      The Diaspora. Week 1.

      Tellurith’s Diary

      However it feels, this is not a dream. I will not wake to my life’s remembered walls; to that Uphill view through wide glass windows, the House around me. The City beyond. I am already wide awake. Perched by a makeshift fire amid miles of dry rice paddies, in the heart of the Sahandan, with half a pilfered archive scroll and somebody’s old silverpoint; planning to make a record. Of where we are going. What we have begun.

      But it is hard to begin this journal without turning it into a requiem. For how shall I go on without remembering all those who are gone? All my peers, my fellow House-heads: Damas and Eutharie and Ciruil, my rivals; Maeran and Denara and Sevitha, my enemies; Zhee and Ti’e and Averion, my allies; my friends. Averion above all, my lovely general.

      And the women who followed them, the House and Craft-folk, the cutters and shapers and troublecrew; so many bringing their men as well. The Downhill clans, the workers and guilds and merchant folk. Even the guerilla raff who came for us or against us out of River Quarter. All the folk of Amberlight. All left, lost, gone.

      But how shall I mourn the greatest loss of all? My dear, my darling, the surety under my heart, the life rising to my fingertips, the light in wall and statuette and mother-face, the voice to my silence, the measure to my song? The heart’s blood, the treasure, the bane of Amberlight. The city-killer, the king-maker. Pearl-rock. The qherrique.

      Blown out of existence, with the armies that besieged us. Never to know, to feel, to share that unhuman answer’s mystery, ever again.

      Yet who am I to complain? When I surrendered, at that mystery’s behest? When my—our—House survived, and relatively intact, after other Heads died with theirs? When most of my folk are here, to shape that House back round me? Safe out of Amberlight, bound for the Iskan marble quarry. Telluir House’s traditional holding; a fresh life, a new world. Above all, when I, unlike so many on either side, have brought both my men live out of the wreck?

      Both of them. Ah. There begins the difference. We—I was used to sharing, yes, in old Amberlight. By House custom, four, five women take—took—a single husband, who dwelt modestly in the men’s tower, while we managed House and Crafts. Sharing a man, I am used to.

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