The Fates Divide

by Veronica Roth

  Aza was the prime minister, responsible for most of the decision making. I consulted, when I needed to, and tried to manage the diplomatic end of things, though I wasn't much good at it. I did know the other planets, though. I'd spent all my life fascinated by them. And my talent for languages was useful, since people liked to hear foreigners make an effort.

  Akos stopped chopping and turned in my arms, so I had him pinned up against the counter. He wore one of his father's old shirts, which was worn and patched at the elbows, and the dark crimson color that belonged to Thuvhe.

  His gray eyes--still wary, always wary--looked a little sad, and had since the day before. Ara Kuzar was on our ship, thanks to chance, or fate, or whatever I believed in these days. She still wouldn't look at him, and I knew having her here was difficult for him, though whenever I brought it up he just said, "Not as difficult as it is for her," which was inarguable.

  I tipped my chin up and kissed him, gently. He responded by wrapping an arm across my back and lifting me into him, strong and warm and certain.

  It took a while for us to break apart.

  "We pass through the currentstream today," I said. "Will you come with me?"

  "In case you hadn't noticed," he said, "I'll pretty much go with you anywhere."

  He tapped my nose with a gray-stained finger, leaving a mark that even I could see out of the corner of my eye.

  "Did you just stain my nose right before I have to go out in public?"

  He grinned, and nodded.

  "I hate you," I said.

  "And I love you," he replied.

  "What's that on your nose?" Teka asked me.

  We were on the observation deck of the ship, which was right above the nav center, where our pilots and flight techs were rushing around, preparing to pass through the currentstream. We walked to the barrier, which was waist-high and separated us from the giant window that would show us the currentstream.

  The interior of the Ogran ship was dark--unsurprisingly--and uneven in places. The floor, no matter where you were, was all narrow pathways made of grate material, elevated over shallow pools of water that glowed with bioluminescent bacteria. It was beautiful, and eerie, but more than one person had fallen in and had to go to sick bay. Something new to adapt to.

  Akos was already standing there. He had saved us places, as the path became more crowded, though really, people would have moved out of my way if I came near anyway. I tried not to care about that. I stood between him and Teka, and listened for the captain's shout to brace ourselves.

  Akos reached for my hand as the ship drew nearer to the blue light, deep and rich in color. He would let go when we entered the currentstream, to allow me to feel its effects, agonizing though they were, but it felt good to have him there as we approached. My heart was pounding. I loved this part.

  The real surprise, though, was Teka's hand seizing mine from the other side. There was a giddy smile on her face.

  "I am a Shotet," she said, more to herself than to me. "I am sharp as a blade, and just as strong. . . ."

  It was a variation on the other poem I had seen scrawled on a wall in Voa, the one penned as a criticism of the Noavek government:

  I am a Shotet.

  I am sharp as broken glass, and just as fragile.

  I see all of the galaxy and never catch a glimpse of it.

  I liked the other one better, because it was a reminder of my own fragility, my own tendency to see what I wanted to see. But this version was good, too.

  I was surprised when Akos joined her in reciting the last lines:

  "I see all of the galaxy," he said, "and it is all mine."

  "Prepare yourselves!" came the shout from below.

  Both Teka and Akos released my hands, almost in the same moment. And the ship was consumed by blue light.

  EPILOGUE: EIJEH

  WE RETURN TO HESSA in disguise.

  For a time, it seemed like too much of a risk, to us. But it was also unavoidable. So we waited until the Shotet sojourned again, and we reserved a seat on the flight under a false name, the one we bought from a criminal on P1104 after we fled from Voa.

  We rent a coat from the shabby tourist shop in the main square, because we don't intend to stay long. We make the climb to the top of Hessa hill on foot, as it has always been. The Hall of Prophecy is closed for repairs, but we know all the ways in, the ones others don't know. We remember that, at least.

  There is a gaping hole in the domed roof of the Hall of Prophecy, with jagged edges of red glass. We don't know what the Shotet used to break the dome, and their weapons of choice, whatever they were, have long since been cleaned up. We stand in the center of the floor, where one of our mothers once stood, barefoot, to receive the future.

  We see--

  A galaxy riven in two, oracles fleeing to Ogra and Tepes and Zold.

  Assembly ships pursuing, pursuing, overtaking.

  Small blasts of anticurrent.

  Possibilities disappearing as lives find their endings.

  We see--

  Shotet descending on Tepes, dressed in special suits that protect against the heat.

  Plugging their noses against the smell of white-hot garbage.

  A man brushing sand from an intact compressor.

  A woman holding a rounded piece of glass up to the sun.

  We see--

  Isae Benesit, wearing a gown in Thuvhesit red.

  She stands behind a sheet of ice where there are hushflowers on the verge of blooming.

  Behind her, in the same red, half-hidden by shadow, is Cisi Kereseth, wearing an enigmatic smile. Her head is adorned with a slim band of silver, the adornment of a chancellor's spouse.

  The flowers crack open, and unfurl.

  We see--

  Our hands seizing the straps that cover our chest as our ship falls, falls, falls through dense atmosphere.

  The lines of light that mark Ogra's surface like veins, appearing beneath us.

  We are Shotet. We are not Shotet. But either way, we are an oracle, and that cannot change, so we are returning to the temple of Ogra, to learn.

  To see what we might become next.

  We see--

  Them.

  Older. The silverskin shining on one side of her head. His gray eyes crinkled at the corners as he looks at her.

  They stand in a crowd beneath a mammoth ship. It towers, in patchwork metals, over the other ships on the loading bay. A new sojourn ship.

  He takes her hand. They walk toward the ship together.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Thank you--

  Nelson, my partner in all things, for mourning with me when I mourn, and rejoicing with me when I rejoice.

  Katherine Tegen, for always being supportive, honest, and exactly what I need in an editor.

  Joanna Volpe, for her humor, guidance, and brainstorming superpowers.

  Devin Ross, for enduring my email issues with good humor. Hilary Pecheone, for teaching me a whole lot of social media wisdom. Pouya Shahbazian, for having good instincts and patience. And Chris McEwen, for his savvy and for refereeing phone tag. Kathleen Ortiz, Maira Roman, and Veronica Grijalva, for navigating the entire world to find places for my books. Everyone at New Leaf Literary, for their general wonderfulness. Steve Younger, for keeping everything on the straight and narrow . . . but in a fun way.

  Tori Hill, for her friendship and for remembering all the things!

  Rosanne Romanello, for her excellent strategic mind and infectious laugh. Bess Braswell, for her good ideas and her warm heart. Cindy Hamilton, Nellie Kurtzman, Audrey Diestelkamp, and Sabrina Abballe in publicity and marketing, for all the planning and brainstorming and championing I could hope for. Mabel Hsu, for her patience with me, and her hard work. Andrea Pappenheimer, Kathy Faber, Kerry Moynagh, Kirstin Bowers, Heather Doss, Susan Yaeger, Jessica Abel, Fran Olson, Jessica Malone, Jennifer Wygand, Deborah Murphy, Jenny Sheridan, and Rick Starke in sales, for their enthusiasm and support. Brenna Franzitta, for keeping her eye
s on my words and my worlds since Divergent; Alexandra Rakaczki, Valerie Shea, Josh Weiss, and Gwen Morton in managing editorial, for keeping every little thing on track. Amy Ryan, Joel Tippie, Erin Fitzsimmons, and Barb Fitzsimmons for taking critique and turning it into design ideas, like magic. Jean McGinley, for tirelessly working with our friends across the pond and the globe. Nicole Moulaison, Kristen Eckhardt, and Vanessa Nuttry in production, for putting this whole package together so well. And last but not least, Brian Murray, Kate Jackson, and Suzanne Murphy, for being our fearless leaders through it all.

  Courtney Summers, Maurene Goo, and Somaiya Daud, for their early (and quick!) reads, thoughtful notes, and encouragement. Sarah Enni, for so. Many. Great. Chats. And for being there for me on tour . . . and everywhere else. Margie Stohl, for always looking out for my brain. Alexis Bass, Amy Lukavics, Debra Driza, Kaitlin Ward, Kara Thomas, Kate Hart, Kody Keplinger, Kristin Halbrook, Laurie Devore, Leila Austin, Lindsey Culli, Michelle Krys, Phoebe North, Samantha Mabry, Stephanie Sinkhorn, Stephanie Kuehn, and Kirsten Hubbard, for helping me weather the hard times and emoji-celebrating the not-so-hard times. (You all give me so much more than I can say.) All the YALLpeople, for the good work we do together . . . even when I'm late with the panels, which is always. A few writerly types--they know who they are--for reaching out with kindness and wisdom at just the right moments.

  My family--the one I was born into, the one I acquired later, and the one I got as a bonus when I got married--for giving me places all over the world to feel safe and loved. My friends, for helping me out of hermit mode when I need it.

  My readers, for following me to new worlds.

  All the women in my life, for awing me with their resilience.

  GLOSSARY

  altetahak - A style of Shotet combat best suited for students who are strong in build, translates to "school of the arm."

  altos arva - A fruit from Trella known for its intense sweetness.

  arzodae - A Zoldan word meaning literally "to mar, as with a knife," though it is actually used as a very strong apology, ie, "what I did cut a piece out of me."

  Benesit - One of three fated families on the nation-planet of Thuvhe. One of the current generation is destined to be Thuvhe's chancellor.

  current - Both natural phenomena and, in some cases, religious symbol, the current is an invisible power that gives people abilities and can be channeled into ships, machines, weapons, etc.

  currentgift - Thought to be a result of the current flowing through a person, currentgifts are abilities, unique to each person, that develop during puberty. They are not always benevolent.

  currentstream - A visual representation of the current in the sky, the brightly colored currentstream flows between and around each planet in the solar system.

  elmetahak - A style of Shotet combat that has fallen out of favor, emphasizing strategic thinking. Translates to "school of the mind."

  Essander - A moderately wealthy planet with a strong religious population. Its people are particularly attuned to scents.

  feathergrass - A powerful plant that originated on Ogra. Causes hallucinations, particularly when ingested.

  Galo - A city in Ogra that is now occupied primarily by Shotet exiles.

  Hessa - One of three major cities in the nation-planet of Thuvhe, has a reputation for being rougher and poorer than the other two.

  hushflower - The most significant iceflower to the Thuvhesit, the bright red hushflower can be poisonous when not diluted. Diluted, it is used both as an analgesic and for recreational purposes.

  iceflower - Thuvhe's only crops, iceflowers are hardy, thick-stemmed plants with different-colored blooms, each one uniquely useful in medicines and other substances throughout the solar system.

  izit - A unit of measurement, about the width of the average person's pinkie.

  Kereseth - One of three fated families on the nation-planet of Thuvhe, residing in Hessa.

  kutya - A massive, furry creature resembling a canine, native to Thuvhe. Thuvhesits use kutyah fur to stay warm.

  kyerta - A life-altering truth. In Ogran, it literally means "that which has been crushed into a new shape."

  Noavek - The only fated family of Shotet, known for their instability and brutality.

  Ogra - Nicknamed "the shadow planet," Ogra is a mysterious world at the far reaches of the solar system whose atmosphere can't be penetrated by surveillance systems.

  oruzo - Literally "a mirror image" in Shotet, this word means "successor" or that one person has become another.

  Osoc - The coldest of the three major cities of Thuvhe, and the farthest north.

  Othyr - A planet near the center of the solar system, known for its wealth and its contribution to technology, particularly in the realm of medicine.

  Pitha - Also known as "the water planet," a nation-planet of highly practical people who are prized for their engineering of synthetic materials.

  Pokgo - The capital city of Ogra.

  season - A unit of time that has its origins in Pitha, where one revolution around the sun is jokingly referred to as "the rainy season" (since it rains constantly there).

  sema - The word for a person who identifies as neither male nor female.

  Shissa - The wealthiest of the three cities of Thuvhe. The buildings in Shissa hang high above the ground "like suspended raindrops."

  sojourn - A seasonal journey undertaken by the Shotet people in a massive spaceship, involving one revolution around the solar system, and the scavenging of a "current favored" planet's valuable materials.

  soju - A metal from Essander that blocks the flow of the current.

  Tepes - Known also as "the desert planet," it is the closest nation-planet to the sun, known for being highly religious.

  Thuvhe - The Assembly-recognized name for both the nation and the planet itself, also known as the "ice planet." It contains both the Thuvhesit and Shotet people.

  tick - A slang term for a small unit of time, similar to a second.

  Trella - A small planet of moderate means and little reverence for the oracles, Trella is mountainous and produces much of the galaxy's fruit.

  Urek - The Shotet name for the planet of Thuvhe (though they refer to the nation of Thuvhe by its proper name), meaning "empty."

  Voa - The capital city of Shotet, where most of the population is located.

  zivatahak - A style of Shotet combat best suited for students who are quick in mind and body. Translates to "school of the heart."

  Zold - A small, poor planet in the middle of the solar system known for its ascetic practices and strong national identity.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Photo (c) Reinaldo Coddou

  VERONICA ROTH is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Divergent, Insurgent, Allegiant, Four: A Divergent Collection, and Carve the Mark. Ms. Roth and her husband live in Chicago.

  You can visit her online at www.veronicarothbooks.com.

  Discover great authors, exclusive offers, and more at hc.com.

  BOOKS BY VERONICA ROTH

  Divergent * Divergent Collector's Edition

  Insurgent * Insurgent Collector's Edition

  Allegiant * Allegiant Collector's Edition

  The Divergent Series Complete Collection

  Free Four

  Four: The Transfer: A Divergent Story

  Four: The Initiate: A Divergent Story

  Four: The Son: A Divergent Story

  Four: The Traitor: A Divergent Story

  Four: A Divergent Collection

  The Divergent Series Ultimate Four-Book Collection

  "We Can Be Mended"

  Carve the Mark

  The Fates Divide

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  CREDITS

  Cover art TM & (c) 2018 by Veronica Roth

  Cover art by Jeff Huang

  Cover design by Erin Fitzsimmons

  COPYRIGHT

  Katherine Tegen Books is an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

  THE FATES DIVIDE. Copyright (c) 2018 by Veronica Roth. Map (c) 2017 by Veronica Roth. All rights reserved. Jacket art by Jeff Huang. Map illustrated by Virginia Allyn. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.

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  ISBN 978-0-06-242695-6 -- ISBN 978-0-06-281986-4 (intl edition)

  ISBN 978-0-06-284238-1 (special edition)

  Digital Edition MARCH 2018 ISBN:978-0-06242694-9

  18 19 20 21 22 PC/LSCH 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

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