The Priory of the Orange Tree (The Roots of Chaos, #1)

by Samantha Shannon

‘Sabran must know,’ Ead murmured. ‘Can she not think of some way to be rid of him?’ ‘Much as it pains me to admit it, Inys needs his intelligencers. And if Sab ousted him without very good reason, other nobles might feel that their positions were just as fragile. She cannot afford malcontent, not when there is such uncertainty about the threat of Yscalin.’ Margret grimaced as the knights-errant broke their lances on each other, drawing a roar from the stands. ‘Nobles have revolted in the past, after all.’ Ead nodded. ‘The Gorse Hill Rebellion.’ ‘Aye. At least there are laws to lessen the danger of it happening again. Once, you would have seen Combe’s retainers strutting about in his livery, as if their first loyalty were not to their queen. All they can do now is wear his badge.’ She pursed her lips. ‘I hate that the symbol of his virtue is a book, you know. Books are too good for him.’

Political lore