The Theft of Sunlight by Intisar Khanani (story reading .TXT) 📕

slightly older than I, dressed in a simple but well-made outfit of green and cream, hair done up in a businesslike bun.

“I’m fine,” I say, expecting the woman to walk on like everyone else. I push myself to my feet. The palace is still a quarter of an hour’s walk. My foot will likely be a bloody mess by then, and I’ve no one to blame but myself. I knew these shoes were no good—knew it before they were ever made—and I shouldn’t have left the royal wing in them regardless of whom I wanted to avoid.

The woman, still lingering beside me, says, “That was rude of him, wasn’t it? He should have at least helped you up.” She shakes her head. “Perhaps he was raised in a barn.”

“Animals are kinder,” I say, which is not precisely true. I’ve been knocked over by our horses more than once, and not by accident either. “Or at least, people ought to know better.”

Her right eye creases with amusement. The other is hidden beneath a patch of honey-colored leather, prettily edged with an embossed pattern of vines. “True. I think that’s why I prefer books. Where are you headed? I’d be happy to send someone to fetch your carriage.”

She must think me a wealthy noblewoman from my clothes. “I’m going to the palace,” I admit. “But I’d prefer to walk. Thank you.”

I start forward, limping rather more than usual. I just want to curl up in my bed and forget this day.

“Veria?” she asks uncertainly.

I turn back, embarrassed by my lack of manners. “No, it’s just kelari. And I’m sorry. I’ve been having a difficult day.”

“I don’t mean to intrude, but did you know the palace has a side entrance? It’s closer than the main one. I work at the tax offices. I can show you the way, if you’d like.”

I pause, aware of the city folk still walking by, the fact that this woman has been kind twice over. “My name’s Amraeya,” I say. “And I’d be very grateful to you if you could shorten the way for me.”

She dips me a friendly curtsy, a smile spreading across her face. “I’m Kirrana. And it’s really not far from here.”

“I didn’t realize the tax office was on palace grounds,” I say as she falls into step with me.

“There’s a lot on palace grounds,” she informs me. “But the main income for the kingdom? There’s no other place for it. There’s also the Circle of Mages’ complex, though you likely won’t have any need to go there. And a good number of other administrative buildings. The front is all palace—that’s all you’ve seen, isn’t it? The back is everything else.” She tilts her head. “Have you seen much of the city?”

“Not very much. I’ve been shopping a bit.”

“Oh, but there’s so much to explore,” she says, and happily launches into an overview of the various things to see in the city, from Speakers’ Hall—the great temple on the river where the highest Speakers make their home and young Speakers are educated—to the docks themselves, to the best teahouses, bathhouses, the glassworker’s shop, and, at my request, purveyors of street food.

We reach the side entrance a few minutes later, and she vouches for me to the guards, though I don’t doubt my clothes help, even if they are spattered with mud.

“You’ll be all right from here?” she asks, having delivered me to a path that leads, in one direction, toward the tax offices and, beyond them, the women’s residence, and in the other direction, the palace proper.

“Just fine,” I assure her. “Thank you, again.”

“Of course. Evening, kelari.” She dips me a curtsy and hurries away before I can attempt one of my own. I like her, I realize. It would have been nice to get to know her, to plan to meet her again. But her quick departure tells me what I should have already guessed: that palace folk don’t socialize with tax clerks. Still, now that I know about the side entrance, perhaps I’ll run into her again.

I turn back to the palace and manage to collar a page as I limp through the third hallway I reach, and he guides me to Melly’s apartments.

“Rae?” Melly says, poking her head in from the inner sitting room as I close the door behind me. Her face lights up. “Oh, you’ve come to visit!”

“Hallo, Melly,” I say, amused despite myself. “I’m afraid I have a reason.”

“That’s—Rae, why are you limping?”

“That would be it,” I say, and slip my turned foot out of its slipper, lifting it to show off the soiled bandages. It looks much worse now that the blisters have burst, splotches of faintly red-yellow wetness discoloring the bottom. “What,” I say brightly, “do you think of the cobbler’s improvements?”

“I think we are sending for him right now,” Melly says with an edge of steel to her voice.

“It’s already night,” I point out, slipping my foot back into my shoe and limping my way to where she waits.

“Precisely why he will need to get to work at once if you are to have something better to wear tomorrow.”

Tomorrow. Assuming I go back to the princess. “I need to talk to you about that too.”

“Of course,” Melly says, “after we’ve sent for the cobbler.”

“But—”

“Sella!” she calls, and raises her brows at me. I subside, making for the carpets on one side of the room with the utterly welcoming cushions set out upon them. I don’t want sofas right now; I want the comfort of home.

After the maid departs with orders for both the cobbler and tea, Melly offers to fetch my regular-wear slippers that I left behind in their guest room. “You rest your feet,” she says crossly when I make to go with her.

I ease off the offending slippers, tuck my feet beneath my skirt, and let myself rest.

I miss home. It’s a startling realization to have, for I’ve only really been here for a few days. But after today’s events, I want my family