Broken Throne - Victoria Aveyard Page 0,155

broadcasted their own abdication, renunciation of rights, and citizen pledges to Montfort several times, hoping to quell any conflicts of succession to the former Nortan kingdom. Ironically, Tiberias Calore was a general in Red Thunder, as was Mare Barrow, and both defeated the forces that were hoping to elevate their children to the old Calore throne. At present, the States are governed by a mixed council of elected representatives and military officials. Unlike Montfort, the Nortan States also utilize blood speakers—one individual elected from each of the three blood groups to represent their own. They are currently Jemma Harner of Delphie, Cameron Cole of Harbor Bay, and Julian Jacos of Archeon, representing Reds, newbloods, and Silvers, respectively.

Research into Silver and newblood abilities continues to this day in facilities across the continent, with Montfort leading the charge. The current premier, Nortan-born Kilorn Warren, prioritizes education, and thereby history and science. The Montfort efforts of discovery are the best funded among the organized nations. Most integral have been human subjects, specifically second-generation newbloods who have volunteered for blood testing. Clara Farley-Barrow is a name well known to scientists, as she is a half-newblood, half-Red observed nearly since birth. Her ability to teleport presented in her teens, which is considered a common age of discovery for newbloods.

Many breakthroughs have been made in the past decade. It is now a largely accepted belief that radiation from the Calamities caused many humans to mutate, with most dying off. Those who survived developed abilities over the course of generations and became the Silvers we know today. Scientists are also circling the general hypothesis of competitive evolution. They now believe that Reds were constantly evolving alongside Silvers, and the presence of Silver abilities forced some Reds to adapt abilities of their own for survival.

At present, the Nortan States, the Union of the Lakes, and the Piedmont Federation stand in alliance with the Free Republic of Montfort. All have democratic governments with equality of blood at their cores, unlike the Silver-led nations of Tiraxes and Ciron and many fiefdoms of Prairie. Some detractors accuse Montfort of empire building, as it appears to hold sway over the other governments. The balance of power has certainly shifted, and the remaining Silver nations strive to maintain peace with the Equal Alliance. Some are making strides toward their own transformations. Tiraxes, for example, is introducing equality laws and representation for its Red citizens, while the Warlady of Fourskulls in Prairie recently married a Red.

Who can say where the paths lead, or how the scales may balance in another decade? I suppose I can, but that is my curse. To watch, to see, until the ending of all things. We destroy. We rebuild. We destroy again. It is the constant of our kind. We are all a god’s chosen, and we are all a god’s cursed.

—JON

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I’m not known for short acknowledgments, but I’ll do my best. These were written on a plane during holiday travel, so they were done under great duress.

Thank you to the greatest hits, the people who constantly make this possible. Mom, Dad, Andy, Morgan, Tori, Jenny, Indy. Okay, the last one is a dog, but she’s earned it. Thank you so much to all my extended family and friends who have supported me through all my excellent nonsense. I have a job and a life where it would be very easy to lose myself, and you make sure I don’t.

To my warrior team—Suzie, Pouya, Veronica, Mia, Cassie, Hilary, Jo, and all of New Leaf Literary. To Steve Younger, guiding me through contracts and an increasingly adult life. To Alice Jerman, Kristen Pettit, Erica Sussman, Jen Klonsky, Kari Sutherland, and Kate Morgan Jackson, who ferried the Red Queen series from overwritten submission manuscript to a short story collection wrapping up an entire franchise. The HarperTeen family for their support, love, and genius. Sarah Kaufman, again, for covers that will never be beat. Gina Rizzo, Ro Romanello, and the entire squadron making sure the world gets to see what we see. This would never exist without any of you.

I also need to note my dear friends within publishing, constantly teaching, encouraging, and checking my dumb ass when I desperately need it. Thank you for your grace and tolerance as I plan distant writing retreats—Alex, Susan, Leigh, Soman, Brendan, Ally, Jenny, Morgan, Adam, Renee, Veronica, Sarah Enni, Maurene, and my dear Emma. To Sabaa, a constant since this started, we’re all lucky to have you and your talent. I’m so happy we’re in this together. And to any author who has ever tolerated me on a panel, I owe you a drink.

Special thanks to my agents, editors, and publishers across the world. There are literally too many of you to list, which sounds rude, but it’s true. I never dreamed I’d write something published across the world; thank you so much for making that a reality. I’ve been fortunate to get to tour internationally, and the teams in the UK, Canada, Germany, Poland, Brazil, the Philippines, and Australia have been consistently incredible. Love to Andrew, JB, Alex, Lauren, Ulrike, Ewa, Ashley, and Diana. You are all brilliant and so accommodating.

To my creative inspirations and constants: George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy, Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, J. R. R. Tolkien, J. K. Rowling, C. S. Lewis, Mindy Kaling, George R. R. Martin, and Suzanne Collins. Wouldn’t have made it without you.

I must, of course, wrap this up by thanking the readers who have come this far with me. I’m astounded that people read anything I write, let alone in the capacity required for a short story collection. There are no words for my level of gratitude. I have no way to express what you’ve done for me, or more important, what you’ve done for the maladjusted, ill-tempered, terrified, daydreaming thirteen-year-old I was. That girl had no idea what was in store. I write for her and I write for you.

Go break some thrones.

Also by Victoria Aveyard

Novels

Red Queen

Glass Sword

King’s Cage

War Storm

Novella Collection

Cruel Crown

COPYRIGHT

AN ORION EBOOK

First published in Great Britain in 2019 by Orion Fiction

Ebook first published in 2019 by Orion Fiction

© Victoria Aveyard 2019

The right of Victoria Aveyard to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the , Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the publisher, nor to be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published without a similar condition, including this condition, being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

All the characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

: 9781409176053

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