Beasts Made of Night by Tochi Onyebuchi

Author:Tochi Onyebuchi
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Published: 2017-10-31T04:00:00+00:00

I spend the rest of the night on the balcony, staring at Kos in the distance.

The sun is high over the wall when I feel Arzu’s hand on my shoulder.

I get up, and when I wipe my face, my cheeks are still wet with tears.

“Sir, is everything all right?” Arzu asks, and for a second it sounds like there’s genuine concern in her voice.

“I’m fine.” My loose sleeve slips, and I see there’s still powder residue on it. Revulsion and anger twist in my stomach.

“Well, sir, you have a visitor.”

“Tell them to come later.” I walk back into my room. “I need sleep.” But just as I turn to my bed, I see who’s standing in the door.

She wears a Mage’s robes, and her spectacles are tangled in her hair. The Mage from Zoe’s.

“Aliya,” she says, as though I could have forgotten.

“Good morning,” I say groggily.

“Princess Karima wanted me to tell you that she is hosting a poetry competition right now, and she requests your presence. It’s a bunch of kids from the dahia, the absolute smartest, and it’s always a special occasion. I’ve been told to expect a wonderful afternoon of equations and proofs today. There will be plenty of Palace advisers, kanselo, and other algebraists, some of the best in all of Kos. They will all be judging. It really is a lot of fun, and I—” She stops, then smiles. “I’m babbling. Well, Princess Karima wanted me to tell you that you’re more than welcome to come.”

She leaves, then, a few seconds later, pokes her head back through the doorway. “And welcome to the Palace estates. I was very happy to hear that you’d be around.” Then she leaves, and it’s just me and Arzu left.

I can’t even begin to figure out how to feel about this place.

“Sir,” Arzu says from behind me, “my advice would be to bathe first.”

Oh yeah. That.

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