Kabul, spring, 1323 IT HAD BEEN a cold winter, one snowstorm after another, followed by thaws and rain, followed by freezing temperatures that turned everything to ice, followed by more snowstorms. The people of Kabul emerged from their homes like pale, thin ghosts of themselves, blinking dazedly in the sunlight of longer days, not quite…
Read more The people of Kabul emerged from their homes like pale, thin ghosts of themselves, blinking dazedly in the sunlight of longer days, not quite trusting in the warmer temperatures.
Talikan, spring, 1323 JOHANNA HAD NEVER been so bored. There was no lack of comfort in the harem, that was true enough. The blue-tiled floors had been built over a hypocaust, and were warm both winter and summer. So was the water in the rectangular bath that stretched the length of the main room. The…
Read more There were no doors to these rooms, of course.
Excerpt… Shasha’s face was twisted into a snarl and she looked coiled, ready to spring. Félicien was white to his hairline. He couldn’t see Fatima or Azar or Malala or Ahmed, although a woman was sobbing somewhere nearby who sounded like Fatima. Hari was sitting on the ground with his legs crossed and his feet…
Read more “Wait, young sir. Wait.”
Excerpt… “We are coming with you to Kerman!” Fatima said. Johanna was startled. “We only just decided we were going there.” Fatima gave that remark the back of her hand. “Father has heard of a new kind of grain available in the west, one that in the right climate can bear twice in the same…
Read more “It is said to be washed in the azure waves of the Gulf of Persia, and harvested by virgins at the dark of the moon.”
Excerpt… They watched the beating go on in silence for a moment. Félicien gave Shasha a questioning look. Shasha rolled her eyes in reply. “What has this old man done, honored one,” Johanna said, “that he should be punished so severely?” The official gave a mournful shake of his head. “He has represented himself as…
Read more “How can one value the honor of a city?”
Excerpt… Wu Cheng was seen to be pacing impatiently up and down in front of the East Gate of Chang’an, alternately kicking and cursing any camel unfortunate enough to get in his way. Johanna waved. “Uncle Cheng! Uncle Cheng!” He halted, staring at the three horses galloping in his direction, and then waved back vigorously…
Read more “Nice horse.”
Excerpt… NORTH WIND WAS not the only priceless possession to have gone missing in Cambaluc that morning. The house of the late, honorable Wu Li was in an uproar as his widow stormed through every room, leaving chaos in her wake. Drawers were yanked out, their contents dumped on the floor, the drawers tossed aside.…
Read more “Wu Li’s daughter is gone,” he said.
Excerpt… 1322, Cambaluc “MY HUSBAND IS dead,” the widow said. Not “Your father.” Not the more formal “The head of the house of Wu.” Just the exclusive, proprietary “My husband.” The widow was selfish even in her alleged grief. There was also a hard glitter of triumph in her dark eyes, for those with the…
Read more The widow was selfish even in her alleged grief.
Excerpt… 1320, Cambaluc One day a month later Jaufre went out to the stables and found Johanna seated on a bale of hay next to Edyk the Portuguese, deep in earnest conversation. She looked more animated than she had since the day her mother died. Edyk was holding one of Johanna’s hands in both of…
Read more Edyk was holding one of Johanna’s hands in both of his own, and as Jaufre came around the corner he raised it to his lips.
Excerpt… “And Shu Ming?” Bayan’s face lightened. “Alive. The doctors say she has suffered no harm. No physical harm.” Bayan nodded at the open door of his study, and Wu Hai went through into the garden, where once again the plum trees were in bloom. Shu Ming sat with her back to one of the…
Read more “I have no other family,” Wu Hai said.
