The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms - By N. K. Jemisin Page 0,10

made my mouth gape.

More spheres floated in this room, dozens of them. They were fantastically variedof all shapes and sizes and colorsturning slowly and drifting through the air. They seemed to be nothing more than a childs toys, until I looked closely at one and saw clouds swirling over its surface.

Sieh hovered near as I wandered among his toys, his expression somewhere between anxiety and pride. The yellow ball had taken up position near the center of the room; all the other balls revolved around it.

Theyre pretty, arent they? he asked me, while I stared at a tiny red marble. A great cloud massa storm?devoured the nearer hemisphere. I tore my eyes from it to look at Sieh. He bounced on his toes, impatient for my answer. Its a good collection.

Trickster, trickster, stole the sun for a prank. And apparently because it was pretty. The Three had borne many children before their falling-out. Sieh was immeasurably old, another of the Arameris deadly weapons, and yet I could not bring myself to dash the shy hope I saw in his eyes.

Theyre all beautiful, I agreed. It was true.

He beamed and took my hand againnot pulling me anywhere, just feeling companionable. I think the others will like you, he said. Even Naha, when he calms down. Its been a long time since we had a mortal of our own to talk to.

His words were gibberish strung together without meaning. Others? Naha? Calm?

He laughed at me again. I especially like your face. You dont show much emotionis that a Darre thing, or your mothers training?but when you do, all the world can read it.

My mother had warned me of the same thing long ago. Sieh I had a thousand questions and couldnt decide where to begin. One of the balls, a plain green one with bright white poles, went past us, tumbling end over end. I didnt register it as an anomaly until Sieh saw it and stiffened. That was when my own instincts belatedly sent a warning.

I turned to find that Nahadoth stood behind us.

In the instant that my mind and body froze, he could have had me. He was only a few paces away. But he did not move or speak, and so we stared at each other. Face like the moon, pale and somehow wavering. I could get the gist of his features, but none of it stuck in my mind beyond an impression of astonishing beauty. His long, long hair wafted around him like black smoke, its tendrils curling and moving of their own volition. His cloakor perhaps that was hair, tooshifted as if in an unfelt wind. I could not recall him wearing a cloak before, on the balcony.

The madness still lurked in his face, but it was a quieter madness now, not the rabid-animal savagery of before. Something elseI could not bring myself to call it humanitystirred underneath the gleam.

Sieh stepped forward, careful not to move in front of me. Are you with us yet, Naha?

Nahadoth did not answer, did not even seem to see Sieh. Siehs toys, I noticed with the fragment of my mind that wasnt frozen, went wild when they came near him. Their slow, graceful orbits changed: some drifted in a different direction, some froze in place, some sped up. One split in half and fell broken to the floor as I watched. He took a step forward, sending more of the colored balls spinning out of control.

That one step was enough to jar me out of my paralysis. I stumbled back and would have fled screaming if Id known how to make the walls open.

Dont run! Siehs voice snapped at me like a whip. I froze.

Nahadoth stepped forward again, close enough that I could see a minute shiver pass through him. His hands flexed. He opened his mouth; struggled a moment; spoke. P-predictable, Sieh. His voice was deep, but shockingly human. I had expected a bestial growl.

Sieh hunched, a sulky little boy again. Didnt think youd catch up that fast. He cocked his head, studying Nahadoths face, and spoke slowly, as if to a simpleton. You are here, arent you?

I can see it, whispered the Nightlord. His eyes were fixed on my face.

To my surprise, Sieh nodded as if he knew what such ravings meant. I wasnt expecting that, either, he said softly. But perhaps you remember nowwe need this one. Do you remember? Sieh stepped forward, reaching for his hand.

I did not see that hand move. I was watching Nahadoths face.