A Gift of Flame

Two-paragraph-Blurb:
In an Empire where worth is judged on strength, crippled and homeless Coward risks a beating every time he leaves his hiding place. He is an embarrassment to the Naghlas, and others of his kind will remind him of his worthlessness every chance they get – even if that admonishment borders being lethal.

Then Coward is caught stealing food and prepares for death… until the Sazi of Zhinda – a legend among his own people – steps forward and saves him. Now Coward finds himself bound to serve the Sazi, and is brought unprepared into high-stakes Palace life. But Empire politics share more with street-survival than he could imagine. Can Coward use his survivor’s instinct to brave a cross-continent diplomatic journey, or will his innate cowardice overcome him and doom the expedition, the Empire… and, worst of all, his savior?

One sentence Blurb:
The Empress ran out of chocolate, and the MC and his boss have to go negotiate for more.