Zeinab bobbed her head impatiently. “Yes, yes, I won't speak a word of this. It has been years, Sylvia. If the chemist ever finds out, it will not be from me.
She was quite self-assured for a woman who never bothered to ask what was in the tonic I regularly poured down her mother's throat. I returned Zeinab's wave distractedly and moved my dagger into the same pocket as the coins. Puddles of foul-smelling rain rippled in the pocked dirt road. Most of the homes on the street could more accurately be described as hovels, their thatched roofs shivering above walls joined together with mud and uneven patches of brick. I dodged a line of green mule manure, its waterlogged, grassy smell stinging my nose.
Did Omal's upper towns have excrement in their streets?
Zeinab's neighbor had scattered chicken feathers outside her door to showcase their good fortune to their neighbors. Their daughter had married a merchant from Dawar, and her dowry had earned them enough to eat chicken all month. From now on, the finest clothes would furnish her body. The choicest meats and hardest-grown vegetables for her plate. She'd never need to dodge mule droppings in Mahair again.
I turned the corner, absently counting the coins in my pocket, and rammed into a body.
I stumbled, catching myself against a pile of cracked clay bricks. The Nizahl soldier didn't budge beyond a tightening of his frown.
“Identify yourself.
Heavy wings of panic unfurled in my throat. Though our movements around town weren't constrained by an official curfew, not many risked a late-night stroll. The Nizahl soldiers usually patrolled in pairs, which meant this man's partner was probably harassing someone else on the other side of the village.
I smothered the panic, snapping its fluttering limbs. Panic was a plague. Its sole purpose was to spread until it tore through every thought, every instinct.
I immediately lowered my eyes. Holding a Nizahl soldier's gaze invited nothing but trouble. “My name is Sylvia. I live in Raya's keep and apprentice for the chemist Rory. I apologize for startling you. An elderly woman urgently needed care, and my employer is indisposed.”
From the lines on his face, the soldier was somewhere in his late forties. If he had been an Omalian patrolman, his age would have signified little. But Nizahl soldiers tended to die young and bloody. For this man to survive long enough to see the lines of his forehead wrinkle, he was either a deadly adversary or a coward.
“What is your father's name?
“I am a ward in Raya's keep, — I repeated. He must be new to Mahair. Everyone knew Raya's house of orphans on the hill. “I have no mother or father.”
He didn't belabor the issue. “Have you witnessed activity that might lead to the capture of a Jasadi?” Even though it was a standard question from the soldiers, intended to encourage vigilance toward any signs of magic, I inwardly flinched. The most recent arrest of a Jasadi had happened in our neighboring village a mere month ago. From the whispers, I'd surmised a girl reported seeing her friend fix a crack in her floorboard with a wave of her hand. I had overheard all manner of praise showered on the girl for her bravery in turning in the fifteen-year-old. Praise and jealousy — they couldn't wait for their own opportunities to be heroes.
“I have not.” I hadn't seen another Jasadi in five years.
He pursed his lips. “The name of the elderly woman?
“Aya, but her daughter Zeinab is her caretaker. I could direct you to them if you'd like. - Zeinab was crafty. She would have a lie prepared for a moment like this.
“No need. - He waved a hand over his shoulder. “On your way. Stay off the vagrant road.”
One benefit of the older Nizahl soldiers — they had less inclination for the bluster and interrogation tactics of their younger counterparts. I tipped my head in gratitude and sped past him.
By M. A. Carrick ROOK & ROSE
The Mask of Mirrors
The Liar's Knot
Labyrinth's Heart
Praise for the Rook & Rose Trilogy
“The characters are fun, the setting is magnificent, and the writing is smart and accessible.
— Los Angeles Review of Books
“Lush, engrossing and full of mystery and dark magic… sure to please fantasy readers looking to dial up the intrigue.… Jump in and get swept away.”
— BookPage
“Immersive.… A feast to savor slowly.
— BuzzFeed News
“Utterly captivating. Carrick spins an exciting web of mystery, magic, and political treachery in a richly drawn and innovative world.”
— S. A. Chakraborty, author of The City of Brass
“A web of intrigue, magic, and the art of the con, this novel will catch hold of your dreams and keep you from sleeping.”
— Mary Robinette Kowal, author of The Calculating Stars
“Ushers you into the fascinating city of Nadežra, replete with complex politics, intricate magic, and mysteries that readers will be racing to unravel. Wonderfully immersive — I was unable to put it down.”
— Andrea Stewart, author of The Bone Shard Daughter
“For those who like their revenge plots served with the intrigue of The Goblin Emperor, the colonial conflict of The City of Brass, the panache of Swordspoint, and the richly detailed settings of Guy Gavriel Kay.”
— Booklist (starred review)
“An escape into a vast, enchanting world of danger, secret identities, and glittering prose.”
— Tasha Suri, author of The Jasmine Throne
“The richly layered city of Nadežra, combined with the deeply intertwined politics and rivalries of its residents, creates a perfect backdrop for the enchantment of Carrick's plot and characters. A fantastically twisty read.
— Fran Wilde, author of The Bone Universe trilogy
“An intricate, compelling dream of a book that kept me turning pages, with a world and characters that felt deeply real and plenty of riveting twists and turns. I loved it.”
— Melissa Caruso, author of The Tethered Mage
“A tightly laced plot dripping with political intrigue. Carrick has built a strong foundation for things to come.
— Publishers Weekly
“This book was like nibbling my way through a box of gourmet chocolates curated just for Reader Me. A large box of gourmet chocolates.”
— Fantasy Literature
“Has it alclass="underline" complex, believable characters; a fast-moving, intricate plot; rich details of attire, cuisine, religion, and so much more, all of which lead the reader to believe that Nadežra exists in more than dreams. This novel starts off strong and only gets better.”
— Jane Lindskold, author of The Firekeeper Saga
“A terrific heroine, intricate worldbuilding, and a bewitching combination of comedy-of-manners and action hooked me from the start and never let me go!”
— Sherwood Smith, author of Inda