The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms - By N. K. Jemisin Page 0,73

To use it. He would fight even if he had no hope of victory, because to do otherwise was to concede that the stupid, arbitrary assignment of fullblood status had anything to do with logic; that the Amn truly were superior to all other races; that he deserved to be nothing more than a servant.

As I deserved to be nothing more than a pawn. I frowned.

Tvril noticed. Thats better. He put the dish of fruit in my hands and stood up. Finish eating and get dressed. I want to show you something.

* * *

I had not realized that it was a holiday. Fire Day; some Amn celebration Id heard of, but never paid much attention to. When Tvril brought me out of my room, I heard the sounds of laughter and Senmite music drifting through the corridors. I had never liked the music of this continent; it was strange and arrhythmic, full of eerie minors, the sort of thing only people with refined tastes were supposed to be able to comprehend or enjoy.

I sighed, thinking we were headed in that direction. But Tvril cast a grim look that way and shook his head. No. You dont want to attend that celebration, Cousin.

Why not?

That party is for highbloods. Youd certainly be welcome, and as a halfblood I could go, too, but I would suggest that you avoid social events with our fullblooded relatives if you actually want to enjoy yourself. They have odd notions of what constitutes fun. His grim look warned me off further questioning. This way.

He led me in the complete opposite direction, down several levels and angling toward the palaces heart. The corridors were bustling with activity, though I saw only servants as we walked, all of them moving so hurriedly that they barely had time to bob a greeting at Tvril. I doubt they even noticed me.

Where are they all going? I asked.

Tvril looked amused. To work. Ive scheduled everyone on rotating short shifts, so theyve probably waited until the last minute to leave. Didnt want to miss any of the fun.

Fun?

Mmm-hmm. We rounded a curve and I saw a wide set of translucent doors before us. Here we are; the centeryard. Now, youre friendly with Sieh so I imagine the magic will work for you, but if it doesntif I disappearjust return to the hall and wait, and Ill come back out to get you.

What? I was growing used to feeling stupid.

Youll see. He pushed the doors open.

The scene beyond was almost pastoralwould have been if I hadnt known I was in the middle of a palace hovering a half mile above the earth. We looked into some sort of vast atrium at the center of the palace, in which rows of tiny cottages bordered a cobblestone path. It surprised me to realize that the cottages were made, not of the pearly material that comprised the rest of the palace, but of ordinary stone and wood and brick. The style of the cottages varied wildly from that of the palace, toothe first sharp angles and straight lines Id seenand from cottage to cottage. Many of the designs were foreign to my eye, Tokken and Mekatish and others, including one with a striking bright-gold rooftop that might have been Irtin. I glanced up, realizing that the centeryard sat within a vast cylinder in the body of the palace; directly above was a circle of perfectly clear blue sky.

But the whole place was silent and still. I saw no one in or around the cottages; not even wind stirred.

Tvril took my hand and pulled me over the thresholdand I gasped as the stillness broke. In a moments flicker there were suddenly many people about, all around us, laughing and milling and exclaiming in a cacophony of joy that would not have startled me so much if it hadnt come out of nowhere. There was music, too, more pleasant than the Senmite but still nothing I was used to. It came from much closer, somewhere in the middle of the cottages. I made out a flute and a drum, and a babel of languagesthe only one I recognized was Kentibefore someone grabbed my arm and spun me around.

Shaz, you came! I thought The Amn man whod caught my hand started when he saw my face, then paled further. Oh, demons.

Its all right, I said quickly. An honest mistake. From behind I could pass for Tema, Narshes, or half the other northern racesand it had not escaped me that hed