The Turncoat Prince
At the moon before Midsummer, dignitaries and princes of the provinces set out on the road to Anamat. The princes rode from each province, all but the prince of Tiadun, whose body had gone down to the dragons’ realm in spring. His brother, murderer, and presumptive heir led his caravan across the mountains, while Gallia, his bereaved mistress, fled across the hills and sailed to Anamat with traders from a neighboring province. As soon as she reached the city, she presented herself at the governor’s palace.
The governor of Anamat and his mistress, Tiagasa, reclined on their couches, a table of delicate sweetmeats spread before them. They were young and giddy with power. Gallia remembered that feeling. She would be drab before them even if she hadn’t just stepped off a
