The Perilous Sea (The Elemental Trilogy #2)

The protection, however, also in effect segregated the Sihar from the rest of the Domain. It was not until two hundred years later that a princely decree by Titus V granted the Sihar the freedom of movement throughout the realm. Titus VI, during his reign, revoked the requirement that the Sihar must wear identifying marks while traveling outside Lower Marin March.

But still their status remained as guests and therefore subject to eviction at any time.

—From An Ethnographic Review of the Domain



14. IT IS often said that the construction of Royalis brought down the last king of Atlantis. That claim is only partly true. It was his father who began—and completed—the building of a new palace, as famines raged outside the capital city of Lucidias.

So while the last king of Atlantis could not be faulted for erecting a large, lavish complex with so many of his subjects suffering, he could be amply blamed for deciding to tear down and rebuild half of Royalis because he disliked how it looked.

—From Empire: The Rise of New Atlantis



15. MAGES HAVE devised many different means of compelling or ascertaining the truth, many of which of questionable legality. The truth pact is one of the few methods considered to be above reproach, because it requires willing participants at the onset and metes out no punishment at the detection of lies: the halo that surrounds the parties to the pact dissolves the moment anyone becomes untruthful—no pain, no suffering, nothing but courtesy and civility all around.

—From The Art and Science of Magic: A Primer





ACKNOWLEDGMENTS


Donna Bray, for the blessing she is as an editor.

Everyone at HarperCollins Childrens, for their kindness and helpfulness.

Kristin Nelson, for being my stalwart champion.

Colin Anderson, for the best cover art ever.

Erin Fitzsimmons, for the fantastic cover concept.

Dr. Margaret Toscano, for her generosity and friendship.

Justine Larbalestier, for her expert advice on cricket terminology.

Srinadh Madhavapeddi, for the names.

My family, for their unwavering support.

And if you are reading this, thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.