The Poppy War (The Poppy War, #1)

by R.F. Kuang

“I . . .” She hadn’t considered this. “But there’s already a Speerly in the Militia,” she said. “What about Altan?” Irjah’s beard twitched. “Would you like to meet your commander?” “What?” She blinked, not comprehending. Irjah turned and called to someone behind the door, “Well, come on in.” The door opened. The man who walked through was tall and lithe; he did not wear a Militia uniform but a black tunic without any insignia. He carried a silver trident strapped across his back. Rin swallowed, fighting a ridiculous urge to sweep her hair behind her ears. She felt a familiar flush, a heat starting at the tops of her ears. He had gained several scars since she’d last seen him, including two on his forearm and one that ran ragged across his face, from the lower right corner of his left eye down to his right jaw. His hair was no longer cropped tidily as it had been at school, but had grown unruly and wild, like he hadn’t bothered with it in months. “Hi,” said Altan Trengsin. “What was that about losers and rejects?”