Chapter Fourteen

After Sylvia throws a bowl at Vaun, Arin permits her a supervised surface walk. With Wes and Jeru, she learns Jeru was spared conscription by an exemption law Arin established and hears Nizahl lore about Suraira. At the river, Sylvia is swept away, only to be pulled ashore by Marek and Sefa, who have searched for her since the waleema and fear she was abducted.

Marek and Sefa try to persuade Sylvia to flee, revealing their skills at disappearing and that they are Nizahlan fugitives. Sylvia insists she is training as Arin’s Champion. Before they can resolve it, Arin, Vaun, and Ren spring an ambush; Ren seizes Sefa and Vaun beats Marek. Under threat, Sylvia’s magic surges: Ren is blasted into the river and Vaun is briefly immobilized.

As Marek and Sefa attempt to run, Sylvia holds a dagger to Arin and argues that keeping them in the tunnels is safer and strategically useful, since their presence seems to trigger her magic. Arin relents, orders Vaun to escort them as “guests,” and pointedly notes they will not be spared twice. He lends Sylvia his coat and even straightens her collar, then warns her to improve her tactics.

Back in the keep, Marek and Sefa argue about staying; Sylvia reasons that harming them would only hinder Arin’s aims, but escape would force harsher measures. In private, Marek discloses Sefa’s terror of Nizahl and reveals her stepfather, the High Counselor, abused her, explaining their flight and fear. Sylvia takes comfort that her Jasadi identity does not cost their friendship.

Later, while returning from a bath, Vaun corners Sylvia and threatens her to keep her magic secret and never raise a knife to Arin again. Her cuffs remain inert, and she doubts the reliability of her power ahead of the trials.