crumbled city walls.
My father had explained that before the Sapienzas hadseized the throne in a coup, the cities had been overrun by angry ghosts. The only things that could stop the ghosts were moving water, sturdy walls, and extreme faith in Safraella. People were afraid to leave their homes once the sun set.
The common people worshipped dozens of gods, though there were six predominant Loveran gods, including Safraella. Countless gods promised afterlives, some more desirable than others, but not many offered such a fair trade as Safraella: a new life in return for a death.
Finally, the Sapienzas managed to gain the support of the most powerful of the nine Families, and together they took the throne for the Sapienzas. Costanzoâs agreement with the Families was that he would follow Safraella, building altars for Her throughout the country and donning his own bone maskâthe royal familyâs color was gold, of course. And the common followed suit, abandoning their gods and turning to Safraella, the god their new, just king worshipped.
So pleased was Safraella by the king and the countryâs devotion to Her that She drove the ghosts out onto the dead plains, granting Lovero Her patronage, and Ravenna had become a city that thrived on nightlife and entertainment for those who had spent so long locked behind doors.
I stashed the horses in an abandoned garden, tied to a pergola, and gave each a bag of grain to keep them occupied. They were trained to wait patiently for their riders.
The palace was massive, as any good palace should be. Its walls soared into the sky, flecks in the stone sparkling against the lamplight like stars. The palace was the crown jewel ofLovero, set against the rubies and emeralds of the cities and cradled by the sea.
I waited for the patrolling guards to turn their backs before I scaled the wall and dropped into the courtyard. I was allowed to be here; I just couldnât let anyone see me. Guardsâ tongues wagged as much as courtesansâ.
I scurried across the courtyard to a special door reserved for clippers. Iâd never had to use it. But my father had made sure weâd all known about the door and the correct protocol. One never knew where a threat to the king could appear, heâd said, and we had to be prepared.
I entered, walking up a set of stairs to a small room decorated sparsely with only a desk and two chairs. I lit the small lamp on the desk and found an alcove in the wall. Beside it were nine candles, each adorned with a strip of ribbon. Nine candles for nine Families. Three empty candleholders reminded us of the lost Families. I supposed soon it would be four.
I chose the candle tied with a black ribbon and lit it before I set it on a tray in the alcove. With a push, the alcove twisted on a hidden axis and the candle disappeared as the wall rotated. A special messenger would see the candle and tell the king someone from the Saldana Family awaited him.
I took the chair in front of the desk and sat, expecting a long wait.
The king was the religious leader of the common, but not over the nine Families. We were Her disciples and served Her before all. If Costanzo Sapienza were to lose favor withSafraella, the ghosts would no longer be kept out of the country. The walls would need to be rebuilt, and people would need to return to staying indoors at night until the king could regain Her favor.
A creak sounded behind me. I turned. A tall, dark-haired man entered the room through a secret door. Costanzo Sapienza, the king.
Iâd met him before, of course, at balls when my parents introduced me. He was a man with an easy smile and sadness in his eyes. None of the children his wife had given him had survived past their infancy, though she was pregnant again now and confined to bed.
He closed the door and faced me, smiling. When he saw my mask, the smile vanished. He put a hand to his brow and closed his eyes.
âYou must forgive me,â he said,
My father had explained that before the Sapienzas hadseized the throne in a coup, the cities had been overrun by angry ghosts. The only things that could stop the ghosts were moving water, sturdy walls, and extreme faith in Safraella. People were afraid to leave their homes once the sun set.
The common people worshipped dozens of gods, though there were six predominant Loveran gods, including Safraella. Countless gods promised afterlives, some more desirable than others, but not many offered such a fair trade as Safraella: a new life in return for a death.
Finally, the Sapienzas managed to gain the support of the most powerful of the nine Families, and together they took the throne for the Sapienzas. Costanzoâs agreement with the Families was that he would follow Safraella, building altars for Her throughout the country and donning his own bone maskâthe royal familyâs color was gold, of course. And the common followed suit, abandoning their gods and turning to Safraella, the god their new, just king worshipped.
So pleased was Safraella by the king and the countryâs devotion to Her that She drove the ghosts out onto the dead plains, granting Lovero Her patronage, and Ravenna had become a city that thrived on nightlife and entertainment for those who had spent so long locked behind doors.
I stashed the horses in an abandoned garden, tied to a pergola, and gave each a bag of grain to keep them occupied. They were trained to wait patiently for their riders.
The palace was massive, as any good palace should be. Its walls soared into the sky, flecks in the stone sparkling against the lamplight like stars. The palace was the crown jewel ofLovero, set against the rubies and emeralds of the cities and cradled by the sea.
I waited for the patrolling guards to turn their backs before I scaled the wall and dropped into the courtyard. I was allowed to be here; I just couldnât let anyone see me. Guardsâ tongues wagged as much as courtesansâ.
I scurried across the courtyard to a special door reserved for clippers. Iâd never had to use it. But my father had made sure weâd all known about the door and the correct protocol. One never knew where a threat to the king could appear, heâd said, and we had to be prepared.
I entered, walking up a set of stairs to a small room decorated sparsely with only a desk and two chairs. I lit the small lamp on the desk and found an alcove in the wall. Beside it were nine candles, each adorned with a strip of ribbon. Nine candles for nine Families. Three empty candleholders reminded us of the lost Families. I supposed soon it would be four.
I chose the candle tied with a black ribbon and lit it before I set it on a tray in the alcove. With a push, the alcove twisted on a hidden axis and the candle disappeared as the wall rotated. A special messenger would see the candle and tell the king someone from the Saldana Family awaited him.
I took the chair in front of the desk and sat, expecting a long wait.
The king was the religious leader of the common, but not over the nine Families. We were Her disciples and served Her before all. If Costanzo Sapienza were to lose favor withSafraella, the ghosts would no longer be kept out of the country. The walls would need to be rebuilt, and people would need to return to staying indoors at night until the king could regain Her favor.
A creak sounded behind me. I turned. A tall, dark-haired man entered the room through a secret door. Costanzo Sapienza, the king.
Iâd met him before, of course, at balls when my parents introduced me. He was a man with an easy smile and sadness in his eyes. None of the children his wife had given him had survived past their infancy, though she was pregnant again now and confined to bed.
He closed the door and faced me, smiling. When he saw my mask, the smile vanished. He put a hand to his brow and closed his eyes.
âYou must forgive me,â he said,
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