A Day of Fallen Night (The Roots of Chaos #0.1)

by Samantha Shannon

Her name was Dumai, from an ancient word for a dream that ends too soon.

That shit happens to me all the time.

For the first time in history, a raider had taken a realm.

‘Courage, my love,’ Tunuva whispered. ‘We are with you.’ Esbar landed a shaky kiss on her temple.

Tunuva held on to her, keeping her from slumping off the bricks. ‘You did it,’ she said, laughing with her. ‘Ez, you did it.

And you might find me less quiet if you had ever paused to speak to me.

Being friends with narcissists be like:

It must have been that feeling that had made Esbar kiss her.

When I found you with Esbar the first time, I feared you would lose yourselves to your passion.

You knew how much of the wine to taste. You knew to leave some in the cup.’

‘But most of all, it was because of your influence on her. Your calming guidance. Your reason.

Apaya du Eadaz uq-Nāra gave her a swift kiss on the cheek.

‘Every warrior should know fear. Without it, courage is an empty boast.

‘but because I loved her, I let her inside, and found it was good to have company there.’

‘I support this plot.’

Had he looked harder, he would have seen the truth. Love blinded

Great Kwiriki, please, let me not disgrace myself.

‘I am no man’s weapon,’ Dumai said, nettled.

He had saved it for a night like this, when he needed to remember he was loved.

‘The first dragons came from the sky, but they spent so long in the sea that they started to lay eggs, like fish.

Wulf had the sudden instinct to run his thumb across it, feel how sharp or soft it was.

wulf is gay!

At night, in their cramped tent, he was too aware of the softer warmth of Thrit beside him. He had never taken such close notice of his friend before, and had no idea why he was doing it now.

Helisent would occasionally write verses for girls at court, tucking them unsigned into a pocket or under a door,

Helisent is gay!

Tunuva held her by the waist, and Esbar walked her to the wall and kissed her.

Do we silence this woman, or embrace her as a sister?’

If I lie down for too long, I fear I may lock up and never rise again.’

I will always be here. I have loved you for thirty years, and my flame will light the tree beside yours. I am always with you, Tuva Melim.’

She was the first dragonrider in centuries.

‘When she returns, she will be Crown Princess of Seiiki.’

Tea

all branching down from their ancestor, Narha. It was said only she could comfort the Mother when she dreamed of the Nameless One.

EAD AND SABRAN ANCESTORS

‘Confidence is a danger, true.’ Tunuva spun her spear. ‘Arrogance, however, I can tip to my advantage.’

A moment later, Esbar was on her back, and Tunuva was astride her, pointing the spear at her throat. Esbar laughed, chest heaving. ‘Sometimes I forget how good you are,’ she said. ‘Hm.’ Tunuva kissed her. ‘And then I remind you.’

‘else I might have stopped loving you long ago.’

It was a strange place to touch someone, the wrist.

All she could see were naked limbs, the sweep of hair on skin as her parents embraced on the bed.

GIRL LEAVE

Nikeya sank up to her collarbone, all her dark hair fanning around her. Against her will, Dumai imagined winding her fingers through it.

‘Then let me comb your hair before you sleep. I’m told I have the touch for it.’

Halfway through the night, she stirred, thinking of a smile that curved like a blade. Her hand slid to the ache between her thighs. In the loose, warm hold of sleep, she imagined that it was someone else touching her.

Her ichneumon had curled up on the mound and died later that night, and they had buried him beside her.

Thats so sad

He knew Esbar held to the Ersyri belief that the rose kept unquiet dreams at bay, and

Should any initiate slay a wyrm, she will have earned the right to stain her white cloak with its blood. Those with blooded cloaks will be known as Red Damsels.’

Water must always quench fire in the end.’

All my father wants is for us all to be closer. I want that, too, for my own reasons.’

With each stroke, Dumai found her thoughts drifting back to Nikeya. She imagined the comb in different hands, a breath against her ear, lips soft as a flower on her jaw.

‘your pain is not my pain, but I know its shape. I am sorry for it.’

She wished she looked less unkempt after a flight.

No child of earth could ever stop it. Only fallen night can stop it.

Yours is the voice that steadies me. As yours steadies me.

From the first touch, her body answered. Each fingertip sowed a seed of sensation, budding into warmth, blossoming with shivers.

I’ve heard people only start to notice such trifling details when they fall in love.’

‘You go too far.’ ‘I must, else I would never go anywhere.’ ‘I don’t want you to go anywhere.’

‘Nayimathun of the Deep Snows.’