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PROLOGUE

Thirteen Years Ago

The rani rushed into the nursery Diht revealed baskets of blocks and toys All the nursele child under their care was put to bed The rani hurried down a corridor and paused at the ajar door Inside, the draperies were drawn over towering s A single lamp burned low on the bedside table beside the painted portrait of her and her husband She had looked so happy then

She pushed inside Her sari sailed above the floor, the rugher steps Her son was tucked into bed, blankets up to his tiny chin His gaze fastened onto hers, and he brightened

“Mother, you came”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t here sooner I had duties” The rani hid a se of blood on her blouse Her wrists ached froo She loathed her responsibilities, but the lesser ranked ranis must learn to obey “Shall I tell you a story?”

“My favorite?”

“Of course” The tale was her favorite as well

She knelt at her son’s bedside and stroked his head The mural over his headboard depicted a world beneath theirs, a warrior, and a god The rani began her recitation of the child’s tale they knew by heart

“Inanna was a cherished young woe Some said she had the loyalty of an elephant and the bravery of a tiger Men tried to woo her, but Inanna ignored the for one ht fro when Anu plucked the stars from the heavens and named them mortals”

“What was the man’s name?” asked the boy

“We don’t know, but it’s said that the round shook and the skies sang The whole world rejoiced that Inanna and her beloved had reunited”

“Was it the same for you and Father?”

“Just so, dear one”

Had the boy been older, he would have detected sorrow in her whisper He clutched his covers, anticipating the progression of the tale

“The night before their wedding, a chameleon demon took the form of Inanna and entered her beloved’s bedcha the deht” The boy pulled the blanket up to his nose “The nextrobes and set off to marry her love She waited at the altar all day, but he never came Jilted, she locked herself away and could not find the strength to change from her bridal attire”

The boy yawned, his eyelids sinking

“Many nights later, Inanna woke to find her intended at her bedside He could not step out of the dark, nor could she light a la He had traveled by shadow to tell her he was trapped in the Void”

“I wouldn’t like it there” The boy stretched out another yawn “I like it here, with you”

“I like you here with me too,” replied his mother

The boy nized her sadness had he been hed him down

His ht after night with her intended They both tried to be content, but Inanna could not leave hiht a way to descend below to find him”

Exhaustion overcame the boy Hisde princesses

Had the boy known this would be the last time his mother would tell him the tale, he would have paid better attention and tried harder to stay awake

Had he been warned that this would be his last night in the palace, he would have kissed his ht

Had he known his father would prevent his , he would have said he loved her one more time

But the boy slept, unaware of the pain daould bring

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KALINDA

Darkness holds secrets few see or seek But when one spends asthe shadows, they reveal unique textures that brush over the skin The cozy fleece of the evening hour, the velvet kiss of fullI have found soht Little else is a comfort

Sitting at my table before my charcoal and parchment paper, I train my senses to feel and listen Hushed winds rustle the palm fronds outside the open balcony Under the eye of the winterinto the evening, so far thatback the night and revealing the face of day My tired eyes strain through the layers of shadows for movement

He will come

A yawn escapes ht arm stops me Will I ever remember?