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

by Samantha Shannon

‘Easy for you to say. You have the blood of the Miduchi. All of you become riders in the end.’

Political lore

We have enough evidence to prove that she is involved in a conspiracy that may threaten the whole of Seiiki. If she brought the outsider to Orisima, she must know where he came from in the first place. Therefore, she must either be in league with smugglers, which is punishable by death . . . or she is protecting someone else, someone who has yet to be revealed.’

Political lore

Niclays sensed the issue was diplomatic. He had sheltered a trespasser. A Seiikinese citizen in his position would be put to death for that crime, but the execution of a Mentish settler would sour the delicate alliance with the House of Lievelyn.

Political lore

‘Truyde and I,’ he began, ‘we— we believe the Nameless One will awaken very soon. That the endurance of the House of Berethnet was never what kept him imprisoned. That come what may, he will return, and that is why his servants have been stirring. They are answering his call.’

Worldbuilding

you witless cabbage.’

Peak insult

What is below must be balanced by what is above, and in this is the precision of the universe. Fire ascends from the earth, light descends from the sky. Too much of one doth inflame the other, and in this is the extinction of the universe.

Worldbuilding

There was no reason Combe should wish Sabran dead. He was a descendant of the Holy Retinue, his power tied to the House of Berethnet . . . but perhaps he believed he could grasp even more if the Queen of Inys fell. If Sabran died childless, the people would give way to fear that the Nameless One was coming. In chaos like that, the Night Hawk could rise.

Political lore

To remind her of her mortality, and the importance of the heir.

Wow… that's BRUTAL. But also, very smart

Kagudo was High Ruler of the Domain of Lasia, head of the oldest royal house in the known world. She was a direct descendant of Selinu the Oathkeeper, and was thus a blood relative of the Mother. Ead had never met her, but she often wrote to the Prioress.

Political lore

‘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

You said in your letters that they carried Yscali-made blades.’ ‘Yes. Parrying daggers, specifically, from Cárscaro.’ ‘Parrying daggers,’ Chassar repeated. ‘A strange choice of weapon for murder.’ ‘I thought the same. A weapon used for defence.’

Environmental lore

You are a root, beloved. You must drink, or you will wither.’

The munguna was the presumed heir to the Priory, though the Red Damsels would occasionally elect someone else if they deemed her unfit for the position.

Worldbuilding

Not long after vanquishing the Nameless One and founding the Priory, the Mother had left on unknown business and perished before she could make her way home. Her body had been returned to the Priory. No one knew who had sent it.

Worldbuilding