The Wicked and The Witless

Sarazin dreams of power — and believes his moment has finally come.

As they neared Selzirk, regret gave way to excitement. Soon Sean Kelebes Sarazin, who would one day win himself the name Watashi, would be in the city where he would have at last a chance of real power.

Powerful foes would oppose his rise to the rule of the Harvest Plains, but at least he was guaranteed support from his mother. For surely Farfalla would approve of his ambition once she learnt of it. Surely she would not want power to die out of the family with her death.

Surely not.

In the event, acquiring power proved rather more complicated than Sarazin had imagined.

His comfortable life as a hostage in the cool and shady city of Voice had left him ill‑prepared for a life of war, intrigue and wizardry. Yet that was what awaited him.