Realm of Ruins
Page 38
“Them?” I demanded.
“There’s a girl visiting. Her father was a merchant who lost his fortunes when the wave destroyed the port in Beyrian, and he thought he could salvage valuables from the abandoned palace—”
“I don’t care about her father! Who is she?”
“She’s just a girl. A bit plain, but her family calls her Beauty.”
“That’s cruel of them if it doesn’t suit her.”
“Well, her face is pleasing enough, but her neglectful toilette doesn’t do it justice. At first I worried for her safety. You know how Devorian can be. But I think…I think he’s come around. She was afraid of him for a little while, and he was holding her captive—”
“Captive?” I demanded, storming toward the doors.
“No! Stop! They’re friends now.” Perennia hurried in front of me to block the balcony doors. I’d grown strong, and she was as dainty as a teacup, but I would never touch a hair on her head. “She’s changing him. I wonder if she has the power to break the enchantment. Maybe she could change him back, and he could come home—”
“Well, if he does, I hope he remembers that I’m older than him and I have the right to be queen.”
Perennia folded, opening the doors for me and floating across the room to lift the filigree mirror off her vanity desk. “I doubt you’ll let anyone forget that, Queen Glisette.”
I winked at her. “All right. Show me the beast.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
It was a joy and a riveting challenge to revisit Nissera and see how it had changed over a century, to tell a new story in this familiar world. I owe so much to the people who encouraged me to take the journey.
My deepest gratitude goes to Sally Morgridge, editor at Holiday House, who I’ve come to see as a friend through the years since our first call about Kingdom of Ash and Briars. You have always been so attuned to what these stories need, and your wisdom, humor, and empathy hearten me. We’re the same age but I still want to be you when I grow up.
As the dedication implies, this book simply wouldn’t have happened without my husband, Vince, who was patient through my many late nights and frazzled days of wrestling with a first draft on deadline, something I’d never done before. You spoiled our fur baby when I was too busy, and you never doubted that I would hand over a story we would both feel proud of.
As always, endless gratitude goes to Sarah Goodman (Mama Sar), my critique partner, sweetest of sweet rabbits, and dearest friend. I’m looking forward to drinking half-and-half sweet tea and discussing young adult books with you even when we’re old and gray.
I also owe a great deal of thanks to Kelly Loughman at Holiday House for believing in the promise of this return to Nissera and hashing out ideas with me in the early stages. You helped shape those scattered ideas into a story.
My humblest thanks to Logan Garrison Savits and Sarah Burnes of The Gernert Company, who championed the very first novel I ever wrote and continued to believe in the magic of elicromancy.
My deepest thanks to the delightful people at Holiday House who have worked hard to help this book reach its potential, including Kevin Jones, Mora Couch, and Hannah Finne. Thank you to the marketing and publicity teams, with special thanks to Terry Borzumato-Greenburg, Emily Mannon, Faye Bi, and Emily Campisano.
Praise to Art Director Kerry Martin and artist Daniel Burgess for yet another striking and unbelievably beautiful work of cover art, and to Jaime Zollars for your enchanting illustrations.
Credit also goes to hawkeyed copyeditor Barbara Perris, who did an incredible job.
I also want to thank Kali Katzmann, beta-reader extraordinaire, best friend since forever, and the type of compelling person you base a character on without realizing you’re doing it. And to my other best friend since forever, Brooke Buchanan, who exchanged angsty middle school writings and fangirled over fictional boys with me.
Thank you to Johnny Wink, Monsieur Clin d’Oeil, for pulling me aside and telling me I could do this for real. And thank you to Jody Persson, fellow river nymph, for your quandary-solving literary insight.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Mom and Dad, for leading to my love of books (shout out to Dad’s theatrical voices for The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear). Thank you, Douglas, for loving fantasy stories and convincing me to play with real swords in the woods even though it turned out to be a not-good idea.
Thank you to all the dear friends and family who have supported me. It says a lot about my community that there are too many of you to name, but know that I am grateful for every one of you.
And my most profound thanks to everyone who read and loved Kingdom of Ash and Briars. I got to stay in my beloved fairytale world a little longer because of you.