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

by James Islington

“El doesn’t give us burdens we can’t carry, Davian. Always remember that.”

circle surrounding a man, woman and child—but

nod. Originally there had been five Tols—five different strongholds of the Gifted, each teaching different philosophies and skills in their various schools, filling specific roles for the Augur leadership.

Only Tol Athian, under whose governance his own school fell, and Tol Shen had endured until the end.

“For your journey. Stay away from towns where you can, but you’ll need to buy food, and there will be some nights where it’s too cold or wet to sleep out in the open.”

told him you were under the Shadraehin’s protection,”

All that I wanted, I received All that I dreamed, I achieved All that I feared, I conquered All that I hated, I destroyed All that I loved, I saved And so I lay down my head, weary with despair For all that I needed, I lost.

“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,”

“Because your presence marks the beginning. It means death is coming, for all of us. It has been Seen,”

“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.”

Seeker was the word they used in Desriel. In Andarra these men would be known as Hunters.

“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?”

It had always simply been accepted within the school that the Treaty was wrong, that the Gifted had been usurped from their rightful place.