And if that doesn’t work?
If I need to act?
Then flick-roll.
Star traitor.
Choice.
My dearest Aurelia,
I know you might think this letter should hold all of my secrets, all of the things I’ve never said to you, but the truth is—I have said it all to you. Everything I believe in, you know, and I feel at peace with that, because there’s a point in every life where the words no longer matter. You will follow your own heart and perhaps, in the end, you’ll only truly understand this—and me—once you’ve tasted it for yourself. The world as it is.
But there is one final thing you should know, and it is this—Sapphie Erelis was never my enemy. I never dreamt her death. No, she was my friend, Aurelia, a dear friend, and it was I who taught her how to undo Arsen Dakar’s ambition. If he ever went too far, I knew she’d be the only one there to stop him. I was dead to him, after all. Our alliance shattered. But her? She was stronger than anyone realized, and I knew she could do it. She could place a traitor in the one place he’d never think to look—his own home. From his own blood. She must have distracted him quite well, because I don’t think he sees it at all. That’s her victory, in the end, not mine, and so I beg you now to always look beyond what seems obvious. Create your allies, everywhere, and only make an enemy when the survival of many depends on it. Every man-made cause has both beauty and disaster built into it, my star. From the royal to the freedom fighter. Chase the truth, chase justice. But be careful.
And most importantly—remember that kingdoms always fall from within. So do empires, armies, families. What’s at the center of us is more powerful than any weapon, and I think you see that now. I learned very young the importance of autonomy. That change must come from within, not beyond, and I believe that entirely. The work of the heart can never be dictated by others.
Guard yours fiercely.
These, then, are my final wishes: that you be careful and be brave, my star. Stay far from your uncle Seath because he can’t be trusted. I’ve included directions here. Havis will be waiting for you at the coast, to take you to safety. You may hold little love for Gref, but I promise he’s the only one without a stake in this game. Judge that if you like, but it’s the best place to be. For you. For now.
Aurelia, I’ve looked across the vast minefield of my life, and I’ve done my best.
It is all for love, elski’han.
Acknowledgments
Thank you, first and foremost, to my dear editor, Elayne Becker. It has been such an honour and a joy to work with you on these books, and I’m so blessed to have had your insight, enthusiasm, and friendship. I know our connection on this journey was meant to be. You are truly the best!
Thank you to all of my incredibly sharp and faithful writing partners. Radhika Sainath and Dylan Matthews, you have been with this story from its earliest days. I couldn’t do this without you! Kamerhe Lane, Rosaria Munda, Gita Trelease, and my forever mentor, Katie Bucklein—you have each helped shape this book, and I am immensely grateful to have you in my life. Much gratitude, as well, to Mike Kern who has been a superb fount of wisdom for anything and everything warplane related.
All my love to the friends who have been close to me in a special way over the course of writing this book: Maggie Hathaway, Kristen Ciccarelli, Maura Milan, Hafsah Faizal, Brielle Khalar, and Lindsay Popovich. Much love, as well, to the brilliant and inspiring Marisa Aragón Ware, who not only created another beautiful cover, but who also offered me beautiful words of encouragement at the exact right moment.
Huge thank-you to everyone at Tor Teen for being absolutely wonderful: Ali Fisher (my excellent new captain!), Kristin Temple, Devi Pillai, Isa Caban, Peter Lutjen, Russell Trakhtenberg, Heather Saunders, Deborah Friedman, Kevin Sweeney, and Jim Kapp. Special thank-you to Laura Etzkorn and Lauren Levite for your dedication and enthusiasm, and for always making me smile!
Thanks to my brilliant and always patient agent, Steven Salpeter, along with Maddie Tavis, Sarah Perillo, Tim Knowlton, Holly Frederick, James Farrell, and the rest at Curtis Brown. I hope you all know how grateful I am for your continued guidance and unfailing support.
Thank you, as ever, to my family for being the perfect cheerleaders, critique partners, and wellsprings of matchless love: Mum, Dad, and Lily.
And finally, a huge and heartfelt thank you to my readers (who I truly think are the best in the world): you make this entire journey worth it!
ALSO BY JOANNA HATHAWAY
Dark of the West
About the Author
JOANNA HATHAWAY was born in Montréal and is an avid storyteller who was inspired to write after reading her great-grandfather’s memoirs of the First World War. A lifelong history buff, she now has shelves filled with biographies and historical accounts, and perhaps one too many books about pilots. She can often be found reading, traveling, or riding horses. Dark of the West was her debut novel.
Visit her online at joannachathaway.com, or sign up for email updates here.
Twitter: @hathaway jojo
Goodreads: Joanna Hathaway.
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Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Map
I. God of War
1. Aurelia Isendare
2. Athan Dakar
3. Aurelia
4. Athan
II. Allies
5. Aurelia
6. Athan
7. Aurelia
8. Athan
9. Aurelia
10. Athan
11. Aurelia
III. Resya
12. Athan
13. Aurelia
14. Athan
15. Aurelia
16. Athan
17. Aurelia
18. Athan
19. Aurelia
IV. The Cauldron
20. Athan
21. Aurelia
22. Athan
23. Aurelia
24. Athan
25. Aurelia
26. Athan
27. Aurelia
V. Inheritance
28. Athan
29. Aurelia
30. Athan
31. Aurelia
VI. Surrender
32. Aurelia
33. Athan
VII. Wings
34. Aurelia
35. Athan
36. Aurelia
37. Athan
38. Aurelia
VIII. Earth
39. Aurelia
40. Athan
41. Aurelia
42. Athan
43. Aurelia
44. Athan
45. Aurelia
46. Athan
IX. Betrayal
47. Aurelia
48. Athan
49. Aurelia
X. Escape
50. Aurelia
51. Athan
52. Aurelia
53. Athan
XI. Testimony
54. Aurelia
55. Athan
56. Aurelia
57. Athan
58. Aurelia
XII. The Horizon
59. Aurelia
60. Athan
61. Aurelia
62. Athan
Acknowledgments
Also by Joanna Hathaway
About the Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
STORM FROM THE EAST
Copyright © 2020 by Jo
anna Mumford
All rights reserved.
Cover art by Marisa Aragón Ware
A Tor Teen Book
Published by Tom Doherty Associates
120 Broadway
New York, NY 10271
www.tor-forge.com
Tor® is a registered trademark of Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC.
The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.
ISBN 978-0-7653-9644-0 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-0-7653-9646-4 (ebook)
eISBN 9780765396464
Our ebooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, extension 5442, or by email at [email protected].
First Edition: February 2020
Storm from the East Page 42