Page 17 of Insolence
-Cantana- Seat of trade. Situated on the Kinvarrea delta. Crescent Bay Harbor - largest port on the continent.
-Nehel- Home of the Great Library and University. Foremost academic hub in the realm.
-Black City- Located north of agricultural region. Storehouse District - holds 3 years’ stockpile of grain.
The High Clans comprise the foremost noble families in the realm. The patriarchs are male elders who lead each clan;collectively they’re called the Five. In partnership with the druKing, they make up the realm’s governing body.
The druKing himself is from a sixth noble family: Clan Spillane. So as not to show preference, he and his High Queen reside outside of any one city-state in their sprawling abode—the Grand Arcade.
The priestesses have us trade off reading paragraphs. My attention wanders until our row comes into rotation.
“Clan patriarchs oversee municipal operations in their respective city-states, which function independently of one another,” reads Cordelia evenly. “The druKing oversees the realm as a whole, coordinating with the Five. The production and distribution of food and military control lie under the druKing’s jurisdiction. Under his orders, one standard form of currency, the tollar, unites commerce across the realm.”
Sadrie launches into the next paragraph: “Clan patriarchs write whatever municipal laws, codes, and taxes they see fit. Their power is nearly unrestricted in their respective city-states, with the exception of the Inviolable Laws. None have the power to overrule them.”
Maida lifts her chin at me.
“Right. Inviolable Laws.” I turn the page to find what looks like an upside-down city map. “Huh.” I scan the next pages, but my workbook seems to be missing that section altogether.
“It doesn’t need to take all day,” mumbles Ghisele.
“Behave, Ghisele,” sighs Elodie. “Need help, Tiss?”
“There’s something wrong with my book.” I riffle back toward the front.
“Probably a misprint,” says Sadrie, passing hers up to me. “Try mine.”
Her pages are in a slightly different order, and I frown, disoriented and wishing I’d been paying closer attention.
“Gods help you when we get to something that’s actually challenging,” mutters Ghisele.
“It’s notherfault.” Sadrie leaves Cordelia’s side, sliding onto the empty stool next to me. She flips through the book herself, whispering loud enough for others to hear: “Maybesomepeople ought to concentrate on their little crayon drawings and leave the rest of us alone.”
I snort, stifling the urge to whisper back:maybe some people are extremely insecure.
The redhead swivels on her stool. “I’m working in oil pastels, you barbarian.” Scowling at Sadrie, she indicates the array nestled in her tin container.
“Enough.” Elodie pushes off the wall she’s been leaning against and prowls up an aisle. “The Inviolable Laws are ordained by the druKing and apply to every citizen. The most important laws being murder is a capital offense, theft and violent assault are punishable by imprisonment, women cannot legally own property, and marriage only applies between one man and one woman.” In one seamless motion, she plucks a purple oil pastel from the tin as she passes Ghisele's desk. She sets it atop the illustration without breaking stride.
Ghisele stares at it, shoulders slumping. I have no idea what strange code just passed between them, but whatever its meaning, dejection rolls off her in waves.
A glance at Sadrie confirms she’s oblivious to the pastel cipher. One look behind me proves Cordelia is reading ahead.
Elodie declares, “That’s enough reading for one day,” and continues the lecture herself. Something about her brief exchange with Ghisele makes me think somethingintimatehappened between them.
I’m instantly ravenously curious as to whether she’s ever taken Ghisele to bed. If she still is. Her words from yesterday come to mind:
“Not only is indulging in each other forbidden, it’s also a very,verybad idea.”
Of course she was speaking from experience. I was stupid not to guess as much, but I was so mortified from kissing her—
Well, kissing her and being rejected. And now I get the sense thatGhiseleis somehowgood enough.
Envy pricking at me, my gaze flashes to the redhead. She’s leafing through the plant book she’s been using as a reference, her expression distant. Why I should be bothered by who the prickly priestess seduces is beyond me. And yet, I very much am.
Chapter 5
Itissa
