opprobrium

Having lived so long in the uncompromising sunlight of Hilo’s love, the absence of his affection was a lifeless and unending winter.

Woon’s wife paused and turned back around slowly, as if the question surprised her. “Kaul Shaelinsan, Weather Man of No Peak,” she said, “you can fuck off and die.”

Bad press over the rates of mental illness and drug addiction among Oortokon War veterans had caused the government to scale back its emphasis on equipping soldiers

Truthbearers

say he’s cold and selfish, but it’s because he keeps what he feels to himself. He does care. He cares what you think of him. And I think he needs to be free of it too.”

“Remi-jen,” said Maik Tar warily. He touched his forehead and dipped into a shallow salute.

“Only children and gods are arrogant enough to judge what they can’t understand. There’s no point being afraid of their opinions.

“Once again, and from now on, a Green Bone warrior,” Remi said with a savage grin. “Maik-jen.”

if in transcendent communion with the gods. “Thank you,” he whispered hoarsely. “Thank you for this second chance.” With the incredible speed and Strength of an Academy-trained first-rank Fist, Maik Tar drove his Steeled fingers through Remi’s throat, crushing his trachea.

Tar did not phone the Kaul house again.

Cory shook his head slowly. “Anden came to see you, didn’t he? He asked you to deal with Jon Remi.” Tar was amused by the flat tone of the lawyer’s voice that suggested the man was quelling a sense of horror.

know it’s not possible,” he said, but the slightest bit of a question lingered in his voice and the quick, sidelong glance at his visitor showed that when he’d seen Anden crossing the street toward his house, he’d still felt a stir of hope

She pretended to struggle with Espenian, to not understand all the things he spoke of, so he talked about them freely, with the sense of safety a person feels around their cat. When Wyles was away from

When I said I’d bring you down, you only ever assumed I’d have you killed.”

“Shae’s right; our clans should put the blood feud in the past. The younger generation should start fresh with a real chance at peace. But our generation—we still have our debts to pay.”

Hilo’s eyes focused on Ato and he nodded. “Under Heaven and on jade,” he declared, then drew his pistol and fired twice.

Hours later, Wen emerged from the bedroom, dressed in white from head to toe. She said nothing, but went out into the garden where she had been married and sat under the cherry tree in the courtyard to mourn from the bottom of her soul.

some level, he did not yet believe that Hilo was gone and expected his cousin to walk through the door at any minute. The mind cannot adjust quickly to a fundamental change in reality without breaking. If the moon vanished from the sky, people would not believe it; they would think it was a trick of light or clouds. Anden felt it would be a long time before he accepted the truth.

will be up to you, to be a Pillar for all of Kekon. I know I should feel defeated, but mostly, I feel relieved.”

I seem incapable of taking the easy route in anything. Survival is a habit, it seems, one that’s hard to break.”