Chapter Six: The Farewell

 

Rodriguez sat back in his chair. The sun had dipped below the horizon, and shadows cast by a flickering candle played across his face. He did not say anything for several minutes.

Chapter Five: The Throne Room

 

Kyosti had no sleep that night. He had gotten home from guard duty after dark and then sat at his table, chin in his hand, nursing a drink while his mind whirred ever faster. It was a bleary-eyed but freshly-shaven archer who turned up at the palace gates as the sun rose above the line of the trees. The guards at the doors were expecting him, watching with curious eyes as he took the trail towards the queen’s courtroom.

Chapter Four: Upon the Wall

 

“Removed from the legion? Removed from the legion?!”

Chapter Three: Old Frenemies

 

Don’t be myself, Kyosti thought as he came under the shadow of the palace wall. Right.

He wished he could say that was the first time he had heard this advice.

Chapter Two: Cadets in Training

 

Kyosti Romalidan lowered his bow slowly, the arrow still shivering in the center of the target.

“And that’s how it’s done, soldiers,” he announced.

Chapter 1: The Mouse's Cries - A Kenji Myth

A Kenjian creation myth, collected by Richinoda Uruka, Grand Historian to the Agent, in “The Mouse’s Cries: Creation Myths from Around the World.” Since Uruka died before he reached Kenji, this myth’s veracity is greatly suspect. Supposedly he heard it from a Bridget sailor staying in Chith-oo-bra. In his own words, the sailor “looked like she had crawled out of the Glowworm Lakes themselves, a pale-eyed, pale-skinned heathen with a love of gambling.” Based on the holes and unanswered questions in this story, (which cannot be found anywhere in Kenji’s mythological archives) one can only guess that either it’s part of a much larger mythology that Uruka didn’t know about, or he omitted parts of the story.

Reading Challenge: October 2019

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers (a book set in an abbey, cloister, monastery, vicarage, or convent)
Fun book about girl assassins! Not very deep or memorable, but fun.

Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff (a book set in space)
Just a great as the first book, but heartbreaking and violent.

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake (your favorite prompt from a past popsugar reading challenge)
A fascinating, well-built world. I loved the characters and felt like I understood them.

Wires and Nerves by Marissa Meyer (two books that share the same title)
LOL this doesn't really count, but these two books were so fun! I loved the artwork and the characters.

Wires and Nerves: Gone Rogue by Marissa Meyer (two books that share the same title)

Archaeology From Space by Sarah Parcak (a book that’s published in 2019)
Not quite as interesting as I was hoping, but still a great look into how scientific fields continue to overlap.

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman (a book set in Scandinavia)
Wow, I'm soooo glad I jumped onto the bandwagon and read this one! A lovely, moving book.

Also read, but not for the challenge:

Thick As Thieves by Megan Whalen Turner

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Heart Berries: A Memoir by Terese Marie Mailhot

The Love Interest by Cale Deitrich

Secret Daughter by Shilpa Somaya Gowda