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COPYRIGHT INFORMATION
Copyright © 2009, 2016 by Sylvia Kelso
Cover art copyright © 2016 by Chris Howard
Map copyright © 2008 by Stephen Segal,
reprinted by permission.
Published by Wildside Press LLC.
www.wildsidepress.com
ALSO BY SYLVIA KELSO
Amberlight
DEDICATION
For Lois McMaster Bujold,
early reader and source of encouragement
And Orlanda Endicott and Widge Rowden,
for even longer-term friendship, and this time, inspiration as well.
MAP
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.