Technocracy

Rachel gave up everything to learn to read.

In the Cascade borough, knowledge is the only thing standing between her people and the storms - and the Royals hoard all of it. So she took the council vow: no marriage, no children, no life beyond the scrolls. In return, she gets to stand in the crowd each season when a black ship drops out of the sky, hands over the weather maps, collects the tribute, and leaves.

This season, the Royal on the landing field is Duke Landon himself. Young. Brilliant...