2024/010: The Game of Courts — Victoria Goddard

2024/010: The Game of Courts — Victoria Goddard

That the Emperor was their sun was metaphorical, a statement of political fiction or theology: that he would burn or blind those who got too close simple fact. [loc. 299]

Another Goddard novella, focussing on Cavalier Conju enazo Argellian an Vilius and his life before he became the Emperor's Groom of the Chamber. The story begins with Conju having survived the catastrophic Fall of Astandalas, and spending the year, or century, afterwards -- the period during which the Emperor was in a magical sleep -- drinking his way through the supplies in the palace, and hanging out with a bunch of disreputable and debauched fellow survivors. (All his actual friends are dead.)( Read more... )