N. Jemisin - The Broken Kingdoms

On some level I knew it was a risk. Gods don’t breed as easily as us, but they made him more mortal than any god has ever been. I don’t know what it means that they left him this ability when they took so much else. I suppose they just forgot.

Then again, I can’t help remembering that evening, at my kitchen table, when the Lady Yeine touched me. She is the Mistress of Dawn, the goddess of life; surely she sensed you, or at least your imminence, while we sat there. That makes me wonder: did she notice you and let you live? Or did she…?

She’s a strange one, the Lady.

Even more strangely, she listened to me.

I’ve now heard the news from too many merchants and gossips to discount: there are gods everywhere. Singing in rain forests, dancing atop mountains, staking out beaches and flirting with the clam-boys. Most large cities have a resident godling these days, or two or three. Strafe is trying to attract one right now; the town elders say it’s good for business. I hope they succeed.

Soon the world will be a far more magical place. Just right, I think, for you.

And—

No.

No, I know better than to think it.

No.

And yet.

I lie here in my lonely bed, watching for the sunrise. I feel it coming—the light warms its way along the blankets and my skin. The days are getting shorter with the coming of winter. I’m guessing you’ll be born around the solstice.

Are you still listening? Can you hear me in there?

I think you can. I think you were made that second time, when Shiny became his true self for me, just a little. Just enough. I think he knew it, too, like the Lady knew it, and maybe even the Nightlord. This isn’t the sort of thing he would do by accident. He’d seen that I missed my old life. This was his way of helping me focus on the new one. And also… his way of making up for past mistakes.

Gods. Men. Damn him; he should’ve asked me. I could die giving birth to you, after all. Probably not, but it’s the principle of the thing.

Well.

I hope you’re listening, because sometimes gods—and demons—do that. I think that you’re awake, aware, and that you understand everything I’ve said.

Because I think I saw you, yesterday morning when I woke up. I think my eyes worked again, just for a moment, and you were the light I saw.

I think that if I wait ’til dawn and watch closely, I’ll see you again this morning.

And I think that if I wait long enough and listen carefully, one day I’ll hear footsteps on the road outside. Maybe a knock at the door. He’ll have learned basic courtesy by then from someone. We can hope for that, can’t we? Either way, he’ll come inside. He’ll wipe his feet, at least. He’ll hang his coat.

And then you and I, together, will welcome him home.

Amn:Most populous and powerful of the Senmite races.

Arameri:Ruling family of the Amn; advisors to the Nobles’ Consortium and the Order of Itempas.

Art Row:Artists’ market at the Promenade, in East Shadow.

Blood sigil:The mark of a recognized Arameri family member.

Bonebender:A healer, often self-taught, with knowledge of herbalism, midwifery, bonesetting, and basic surgical techniques. Some bonebenders illegally utilize simple healing sigils.

Bright, the:The time of Itempas’s solitary rule, after the Gods’ War. General term for goodness, order, law, righteousness.

Darkwalkers:Worshippers of the Lord of Shadows.

Dateh Lorillalia:A scrivener, formerly of the Order of Itempas. Husband of Serymn Arameri.

Dekarta Arameri:Most recent former head of the Arameri family.

Demon:Children of forbidden unions between gods/ godlings and mortals. Mortal, though they may possess innate magic that is equivalent, or greater, to that of godlings in strength.

Dump:A godling who dwells in West Shadow, overseeing the Shustocks junkyard. The Lord of Discards.

Easha:Local term for East Shadow.

Enefa:One of the Three. Former Goddess of Earth, creator of godlings and mortals, Mistress of Twilight and Dawn (deceased).

Eo:A godling who dwells in Shadow. The Merciful.

Gateway Park:A park built around Sky and the World Tree’s base, in East Shadow.

God:Immortal children of the Maelstrom. The Three.

Godling:Immortal children of the Three. Sometimes also referred to as gods.

Godsblood:A popular and expensive narcotic. Confers heightened awareness and temporary magical abilities on consumers.

God spots:Local/colloquial name for locations in Shadow that have been temporarily or permanently made magical by godlings.

Gods’ Realm:All places beyond the universe.

Gods’ War:An apocalyptic conflict in which Bright Itempas claimed rulership of the heavens after defeating his two siblings.

Hado:A member of the New Lights. Master of Initiates.

Heavens, Hells:Abodes for souls beyond the mortal realm.

Heretic:A worshipper of any god but Itempas.

High North:Northernmost continent. A backwater.

House of the Risen Sun:A mansion. One of several attached to the World Tree’s trunk.

Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, the:Collective term for the world since its unification under Arameri rule.

Ina:A godling who dwells in Shadow.

Interdiction, the:The period during which no godlings appeared in the mortal realm, per order of Bright Itempas.

Islands, the:Vast archipelago east of High North and Senm.

Itempan:General term for a worshipper of Itempas. Also used to refer to members of the Order of Itempas.

Itempas:One of the Three. The Bright Lord; master of heavens and earth; the Skyfather.

Kitr:A godling who dwells in Shadow. The Blade.

Lil:A godling who dwells in Shadow. The Hunger.

Madding:A godling who dwells in Shadow. The Lord of Debts.

Maelstrom:The creator of the Three. Unknowable.

Magic:The innate ability of gods and godlings to alter the material and immaterial world. Mortals may approximate this ability through the use of the gods’ language.

Maroland, the:Smallest continent, which once existed to the east of the islands; site of the first Arameri palace. Destroyed by Nahadoth.

Mortal realm:The universe, created by the Three.

Nahadoth:One of the Three. The Nightlord. Also called the Lord of Shadows.

Nemmer:A godling who dwells in Shadow. The Lady of Secrets.

Nimaro Reservation:A protectorate of the Arameri, established after the Maroland’s destruction to provide a home for survivors. Located at the southeast edge of the Senm continent.

Nobles’ Consortium:Ruling political body of the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms.

Oboro:A godling who dwells in Shadow.

Order of Itempas:The priesthood dedicated to Bright Itempas. In addition to spiritual guidance, also responsible for law and order, education, public health and welfare, and the eradication of heresy. Also known as the Itempan Order.

Order-Keepers:Acolytes (priests in training) of the Order of Itempas, responsible for maintenance of public order.