The Goblin Emperor (The Chronicles of Osreth #1)

by Katherine Addison

“What must thou do?” Setheris snorted laughter. “Thou must be emperor, boy. Must rule all the Elflands and banish thy kindred as thou seest fit. Why com’st thou whining to me of what thou must do?”

Better to build new bridges, he thought, than to pine after what’s been washed away.

Study the stars. — M.

“The universities are open to women. We know this. Why do these women not — why did our sister not attend?” There was an unhappy pause before Csevet said, “To do so, Serenity, she would have needed the permission of her father. And a university education is felt to make a woman unfit to be a wife.”

“It signifies loyalty,” Telimezh said almost impatiently. “If the Ceredada have kept this sunblade all these centuries, then to offer it to the emperor now — ” He broke off and regrouped. “Serenity, she is giving you a gift that Arbelan Zhasan did not give the late emperor your father.”

You bring change, Edrehasivar, and you bring it because I opened the way for you.” “No. It is not worth the price.” “Twenty-three lives,” Shulivar said. “Do you know how many people the factories of Choharo and Rosiro and Sevezho kill in a year? In a month?” “But I haven’t — ” “You will,” said Shulivar, and his eyes were blue, serene, and utterly mad. And yet, dear blessed goddesses, he was right. Maia knew he would.