The Shadow of What Was Lost (The Licanius Trilogy, #1)

by James Islington

lying drowsily, his concerns mixing together in his head to create a disquieting sense of unease.

Parth gave a resigned shrug. “If you’re a Shadow, and someone—anyone—else isn’t, Administration will do what they believe is in the best interests of the person who isn’t,” he said quietly. “Remember that, and you shouldn’t be surprised by much.”

“For myself, and my siblings. Four hunt. One hides, cognizant of what he is. A true traitor. An escherii.” The man gazed at her. “And I Watch.”

Davian ran his hands through his hair. “I don’t know, Wirr,” he admitted. “I just feel…dirty. Sick to my very core. Like I just made the biggest mistake of my life, and there is no way I can ever take it back.”

“You don’t think we should rule again?” Wirr looked at Davian levelly. “I’m stronger and faster than a regular person. I can do the work of several men each day, then tap my Reserve at night to do other things rather than sleeping. All being well, I’ll live twenty years longer than most people, maybe more.” He paused. “But does that make me wiser? Fairer? Do those qualities automatically make me a good ruler, or even just a better one than someone who doesn’t have the Gift?”

She couldn’t sleep, but there was no point in wasting energy. No point in thinking about what was coming, either. She couldn’t stop it now, even if she’d wanted to. Taking a deep, steadying breath, she lay back on the bed and settled down to wait.

The entire scene was dirty, hot, and chaotic. Davian didn’t like it at all. “How long now?” he muttered to Taeris, wiping beads of moisture from his brow and scowling as another stranger shouldered past. “I said fifteen minutes, and that was ten minutes ago. How long do you think?” replied Taeris, irritation creeping into his tone.

Haha like a parent 🤪

“Everyone has a darker nature, Caeden. Everyone. Good men fear it, and evil men embrace it. Good men are still tempted to do the wrong thing, but they resist those urges.

That’s the natural arrogance of man, sadly. We want to believe that free will means complete independence from the plans of our creator.”

“You can put your trust in something that’s obvious, that’s measurable or predictable—but that’s not faith. Nor is believing in something that gives you no pause for doubt, no reason or desire to question. Faith is something more than that. By definition, it cannot have proof as its foundation.”

“Because it strikes me that a man needs to know what he believes before he can really know who he is.”

“That was not funny,” Wirr grumbled. Taeris did not take his eyes off the road ahead. “It was a little funny. Now be quiet.”