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

by Samantha Shannon

She drowned in the ruthless sea of Nikeya, and she longed for the whole burning world to drown with her.

‘Treasure your family, Siyu. All your days.’

‘We pledged our love by water, under the night sky. If you still want to be wed to me, then you already are, Nikeya.’ Nikeya linked their fingers. ‘Then I am.’

She let herself sink into the black sea of slumber, twined around the woman she loved.

Inys wore grey, to mourn itself.

Now I am free, and she is bound.

‘Don’t fall,’ she said. ‘I have waited all my life for you, Noziken pa Dumai.’

With a jerk of its terrible head, Suzumai was gone.

It will be a day of fallen night, when the heavens will part for a rain from on high.

She thought of Nikeya and wished. She wished they could have had more time.

Goodbye, my sister, my mirror. My friend.

A silver thread had unravelled within her, and with it, the voice in her dream disappeared.

It is your nature to warm all you see, and the sun does not ask forgiveness for shining.’

He meant to let himself be loved, and to love in return.

for she was awake, and her soul was alive, and her body was hers, it was fully hers now.

A flower in a world of ash is proof that life endures.’

I would like to train some of these orphans as riders, to help defend Seiiki.’

She would not let them forget Queen Dumai.