The Daylight War (The Demon Cycle, #3)

by Peter V. Brett

“Despite her lack of respect, Melan is not incorrect. It is the wardwalls, not warriors, that protect the Desert Spear. Until the Deliverer comes again, alagai’sharak is only the pride of men, throwing lives away for victories not worth their price.” Inevera’s eyes widened at the blasphemy. Soli and Kasaad risked themselves in the Maze every night. Her grandfathers, uncles, and male ancestors going back three hundred years had died in the Maze, as she had always thought her own sons would. It could not simply be the pride of men. “Does not the Evejah tell us that killing alagai is worth any price?” “The Evejah tells us that obeying the Shar’Dama Ka is worth any price,” Qeva said. “And the Shar’Dama Ka commanded we kill alagai.” Inevera opened her mouth, but Qeva raised a finger and cut her off. “But the Shar’Dama Ka has been dead for three thousand years, and took the fighting wards to his grave. Each night, more men die in the Maze than are born each day. There were millions of us before the Return. Now, less than a hundred thousand, all because of men and their ridiculous game.”