"Heir" by Sabaa Tahir, Chapters 37-50

Two guards appeared at the entrance to the gate, but unlike with Cero, they bowed their heads in deference, and thumped their hearts thrice with their fists.

Triarch Ghaz was the quickest to nod. “Ambassador Danil and his retinue.”

“You mean the bookseller? He read the book long before Aiz did, and is in thrall to this creature masquerading as Mother Div, like Aiz. There’s an Ankanese seer who read it as well. When I asked them about it, neither could speak of it without going pale and sick.”

It took them weeks to broach the subject with Aiz.

“The Empire is cowed because of our bombs. Already their generals plot a return. If we stay, we will face decades of insurgency. More importantly” — her voice grew strident — “we are not meant to remain here, Triarch Ghaz. The spirit of Mother Div speaks to me because I vowed to return us to our homeland. This is my holy mission, and I won’t abandon it.”

Laughter and other, more titillating sounds drifted out of the many rooms they passed, and Arelia craned her neck, trying to get a glimpse of whatever was going on within.

The man hadn’t become a preeminent Empire spy by doing anything halfway.

The Nightbringer, the only one to escape the genocide, spent a millennium trying to free his people.

He waxed ecstatic for a bit about how the Jaduna eschewed the hoarding of power.

The Jaduna value the community over the individual. Humility above bluster.

For while High Cleric Dovan, Olnas, and the rest of the clergy looked at Aiz with apposite awe, Sister Noa only ever appeared chary.

In doing so, perhaps Aiz had limited herself by curtailing the power Div fed her.

The Tel Ilessi stalked closer, exultant.

Musa sent a wight detailing the near annihilation of a full legion.

She’d laugh at herself for her maudlin thoughts about self-sacrifice if she wasn’t sopping wet and beginning to shiver.