All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
All characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and utterly remarkable.
Cover design and photography is by Alexandria Mercer’s mom and Dave Mercer’s wife. The photographer would like to thank Alex for digging the cloak out of the costume box and growing her hair out just long enough, and thank Dave for once again dressing up, even though he kept channelling Bones from Star Trek for his inspiration. (“Dammit Jim, I’m a soldier, not a doctor!”)
The doors and stairs are from dreamstime.com, and bear a remarkable resemblance to the Parthenon in Paris, or so I’m told.
Contact author via website: forestedgebooks.com
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
This book is also available in print.
Please remember to leave a review for my book at your favorite retailer.
Because to the world,
doing the right thing
often looks like doing
the dumb thing.
MAPS: visit https://forestedgebooks.com/maps/
A pronunciation guide to some of the more unusual names . . .
Nicko Mal— NEE-koh MAL
Querul—KWER-el
Idumea— i-doo-ME-uh
Hogal Densal— HOE-gal DENS-al
Mahrree Peto— MARR-ee PAY-toh
Cephas Peto— SEE-fus PAY-toh
Hycymum Peto— HIE-si-mum PAY-toh
Hierum— HIE-rum
Tuma Hifadhi— TOO-muh hi-FOD-hee
Sonoforen— sun-uv-OR-en
Terryp— TARE-up
Jaytsy— JAYT-see
Brisack— BRIZ-ak
Gizzada— gi-ZAH-duh
Shem Zenos—Shem ZEE-noss
Qualipoe Hili—KWAL-ee-poe HEE-lee
Hegek—HEG-ik
Kuman—KOO-min
Kindiri—kin-DEER-ee
Giyak—GUY-ak
For background information on all character names and derivations, visit forestedgebooks.com/characters.
CONTENTS:
Prologue ~ “Oh, I remember Idumea.”
Chapter 1 ~ “Change isn’t all bad, Perrin.”
Chapter 2 ~ “Did something happen?”
Chapter 3 ~ “My . . . my . . . my sofa!”
Chapter 4 ~ “Your renovations will have to wait, Mrs. Shin.”
Chapter 5 ~ “Sometimes it feels like the world’s out to get me.”
Chapter 6 ~ “This is another reason why I hate Idumea.”
Chapter 7 ~ “Finally found a way to get them to Idumea.”
Chapter 8 ~ “Peto, have you ever had . . . a dream?”
Chapter 9 ~ “Says the most competitive woman in the world.”
Chapter 10 ~ “Just smile and nod. Smile and nod.”
Chapter 11 ~ “You messed up again, didn’t you?”
Chapter 12 ~ “In an emergency, you need to preserve the hierarchy to prevent anarchy.”
Chapter 13 ~ “As if there are different kinds of people in the world.”
Chapter 14 ~ “The enlisted men are teaching the brassy a thing or two.”
Chapter 15 ~ “You get yourself ready. I will deal with my son.”
Chapter 16 ~ “Those kind don’t belong here.”
Chapter 17 ~ “What we need is someone who has a special talent.”
Chapter 18 ~ “But the people of Edge are beginning to panic, sir.”
Chapter 19 ~ “Mother, who’s driving the coach?”
Chapter 20 ~ “I realize it’s not exactly a mansion in Idumea--”
Chapter 21 ~ “What we did would be known by now, wouldn’t it?”
Chapter 22 ~ “This really isn’t in my nature, and I’m very sorry about this, but--”
Chapter 23 ~ “Once she even caught a falcon.”
Chapter 24 ~ “Can you help him see reason?”
Chapter 25 ~ “So the Quiet Man is still our man.”
Chapter 26 ~ “Snakes, cats—I know you hate them all.”