Free Sworn To Raise: Courtlight #1 by Terah Edun Page A

fashion of the season and a few coins for some small purchases.
    With glee, she caught a tuk-tuk —a small three-wheeled conveyance that she delighted in—at the gates of the Companions Guild and headed off into the city. It was an unseasonably warm winter, even by Sandrin standards. Usually, heavy rains came in off the sea around this time of year, but that was not so today. The heat was almost sweltering.
    Deciding on her first order of business, she spotted an ice seller on her way to the bookbinders’ district. She hopped out of the tuk-tuk and walked. She knew that if she’d stayed with the tuk-tuk, the driver would drive in a large circle around to the bookbinders district and charge her twice as much when she could just cut through the ice seller’s street.
    The ice sellers’ street, in the shade of large buildings, offered a shortcut through the weavers’ district and into the bookbinders’ district. It would also be much cooler walk than any other route. She took out a small coin to pay the guards of the ice sellers’ street, and walked between their glistening chests to be hit by a refreshing wave of cool air on the other side. The ice sellers kept their one street, which was fairly large, cool year-round by means of the services of a permanent weather warden. Contracts like this, for small streets or buildings, was lucrative work for weather wardens who had to contract out their services, she imagined.
    Weather wardens were well received anywhere they went, but in the city of Sandrin, the Imperial Court mandated that only the two weather mages sanctioned by the Emperor could affect the weather currents and temperatures in the city. If anyone else was caught casting a major weather spell without the express written permission of the palace, it was considered a crime against the kingdom and they would be punished before the courts. The only other way for a weather warden to practice in the city—aside from a few limited permits owned by certain Districts or Guilds—was to teach, which left a dearth of plump positions for those weather-inclined mages to practice in.
    Which is why so many leave the city and practice on estates, Ciardis thought. Peering down at the selection of flavors she saw her favorite – strawberry! She indicated to a flavored-ice seller that she wanted it over ice chips. This delicacy was her new favorite thing about the city. She thought wistfully of the snow cones she’d told Teachene about. Perhaps if she could find a way to get them to grind the ice very finely…
    Aside from the flavored ice seller, the thoroughfare was packed with household ice sellers and contract sellers. Since weather wardens couldn’t individually practice by cooling homes, they licensed their services to contract sellers who sold the services out by bid and paid the wardens flat fees. The contract sellers were calling out to passerbys about their services.
    Two rooms – one price! , said one man
    Fifteen shillings a month to keep your whole apartment cool!, shouted another with a full beard.
    A third voice came from behind her, Own an inn? We give you special price! Quality cold air – day and night for your patrons.
    Soon she began tuning out the contract sellers as she continued to walk down the ice sellers street. They were sure to make a killing piping cool air into city homes, particularly in this heat.
    She had no idea how the weather wardens cooled the air in this blazing hot sun but they did it and she was eternally gratefully for the Guild’s contract with the contract seller who made it possible. The nights here were torrid, even with the sea breeze off the ocean. It was almost as if a heat wave was cocooned above the city.
    Making her way into the Bookbinders’ District took a few minutes. She finished her flavored-ice along the way, licking it carefully to avoid getting drops on her dress. She made her way between the bookshops, heading for the one that looked the most decrepit. It was a