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I try to take it in, e, but my mind just can’t fathoht sky, while airjets fly even higher, as fast as shooting stars I thought the Hall of the Sun was a wonder; apparently I never knew thebeautiful here, not when the smoky, dark factories are only a few miles back The contrast between the Silver city and the Red slu down, the world trying to kill hting against and how difficult, how impossible, it will be to win I’ve never felt s above us It looks ready to shole

But I have to try If only for Gray Town, for the ones who have never seen the sun

TWENTY-THREE

By the time the boat docks at the western bank and we’re back on land, night has fallen At ho to sleep, but not in Archeon If anything, the city seeoes dark Fireworks crackle overhead, raining light down on the Bridge, and atop Whitefire, a red-and-black flag rises The king is back on this throne

Thankfully there are no reeted by arht, Maven and I have a transport to ourselves, joined by only two Sentinels He points out land what seems like every statue and street corner He even h it sits on the other side of the river

"The Bridge and East Archeon are for civilians, the coh many are richer than soh "There’s such a thing?"

Maven just shrugs "Of course They’re merchants, businessmen, soldiers, officers, shop owners, politicians, land barons, artists, and intellectuals Soh Houses, some rise above their station, but they don’t have noble blood, and their abilities aren’t as, well, powerful"

Not everyone is special Lucas told me that once I didn’t know he meant Silvers too

"Meanwhile, West Archeon is for the court of the king," Maven continues We pass a street lined with lovely stone houses and pruned, flowering trees "All the High Houses keep residences here, to be close to the king and government In fact, the entire country can be controlled from this cliff, if the need should arise"

That explains the location The western bank is sharply sloped, with the palace and the other govern the Bridge Another wall surrounds the hilltop, fencing in the heart of the country I try not to gae pass through the gate, revealing a tiled square the size of an arena Maven calls it Caesar’s Square, after the first king of his dynasty Julian ly; our lessons never got much further than the First Divide, when red and silver became much more than colors

Whitefire Palace occupies the southern side of the Square, while the courts, treasury, and administrative centers take up the rest There’s even ain the walled yard They are Cal’s Shadow Legion, who traveled ahead of us to the city A comfort to the nobles, Maven called them Soldiers within the walls, to protect us if another attack should come

Despite the hour, the Square bustles with activity as people rush toward a severe-looking structure next to the barracks Red-and-black flags, e froe set up in front of the building, with a podiu crowd