Learn About Loss is the third short story in Ghosts of the Shadow Market, co-written by Cassandra Clare and Kelly Link.
Description[]
In a small town lost to despair, a dark carnival of a market appears. Faeries and warlocks we know converge, and the fate that will one day produce Kit Herondale is sealed.[1]
Plot[]
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On 23 October, posters for Mysterious Merchants' Bazaar of the Bizarre appear on every street. Two days later, on Saturday, at least half the people who lived in the city turn up at the Bazaar. Strange things begin to happen to people who visit the bazaar, it being not only a carnival but also a Shadow Market. Sister Emilia and Brother Zachariah Portal to investigate it and to retrieve a piece of adamas from there.
When exploring the Market, Sister Emilia and Brother Zachariah see Roland the Astonishing performing with a faerie woman and a baby. Afterward, they run into Bill Doyle who is looking for his mother. He tells them that he has gained the ability to see the Shadow World after going through the Maze of Mirrors. The Shadowhunters proceed to encounter Belial in the heart of the maze. They retrieve the adamas mask from him and he informs Brother Zachariah of a branch of the Herondale family that is in danger. He offers either a cure for Brother Zachariah or more information on the Herondales. Brother Zachariah says the Carstairs family owes the Herondales a debt and asks for more information.
When Belial has told him all he is willing to tell, Brother Zachariah abruptly leaves the maze, saying something about Roland. Sister Emilia makes a deal with Belial, asking him to give Brother Zachariah and Will Herondale time together. In exchange for this, she says that she will not spend time forging a blade strong enough to destroy him. Amused, Belial agrees.
When Sister Emilia steps out of the maze, she realizes that the carnival is deserted, and all the stalls have vanished. Brother Zachariah had recognized Roland and his family as the Herondales that Belial had been talking about but he was too late, they had already fled. He informs Sister Emilia that she has passed her test and, exhausted, she lies down to sleep with Brother Zachariah keeping watch. However, he finds himself—a younger version of himself—in Shanghai with young Will. He realizes what deal Sister Emilia has made but, determined not to waste the time he has, he chooses to explore Shanghai with Will instead.
Characters[]
- Sister Emilia
- Brother Zachariah
- Belial
- Brother Enoch (voice only)
- Will Herondale (appeared in a vision)
- Jem Carstairs (appeared in a vision)
- Roland the Astonishing
- Roland's wife
- Bill Doyle
- Mrs. Doyle
- Tessa Herondale (appeared in an illusion)
- Sister Emilia's mother (appeared in an illusion)
- Sister Emilia's brothers (appeared in an illusion)
- Jonah Carstairs (appeared in an illusion)
- Ke Wen Yu (appeared in an illusion)
Gallery[]
Art[]
Editions[]
International covers[]
Trivia[]
- Though this is the third story, it was released fourth due to Son of the Dawn being released first.
- This story is told from two points of view, namely: Brother Zachariah and Sister Emilia.