Contents
Chapter Twenty-Six
Overview
Sylvia recovers from the trial and resolves to steal Sultana Vaida’s seal to shield Sefa and Marek from Nizahl. Supreme Rawain arrives, triggering Sylvia’s trauma and commanding her to supper. Before dinner, Arin discovers Sylvia’s scars and shows rare gentleness. At Orban’s palace, Rawain pointedly interrogates Sylvia—abetted by Vaun—probing for proof she is Jasadi, but she evades him. Rawain departs satisfied yet ominously expectant of her success.
Summary
Sylvia wakes in the pavilion, hands bandaged but healed, and tells Sefa that she and Marek will not be forced into Nizahl. She proposes stealing Sultana Vaida’s palace seal in Omal to bargain for their safety. Before they can plan, Supreme Rawain enters with Arin, praising Sylvia and summoning her to supper, which ignites Sylvia’s grief and rage.
After Rawain leaves, Sylvia’s magic surges out of control and she rebuffs help. Later, while she dresses, Arin walks in and sees the layered scars on her back from various whips, including the banned arakin. His anger and gentleness steady her, and he pointedly says he is “waiting to be disappointed,” challenging her self-loathing.
That evening at Orban’s austere castle, Sylvia is seated for supper with Arin when Supreme Rawain arrives and, unexpectedly, calls in Vaun. Rawain questions Sylvia about surviving poisoned sap and sleep-inducing air in the first trial, probing for signs of magic use while Vaun presses with leading details.
Sylvia answers coolly, citing practical measures and her chemist training, denying any magical shortcuts. Rawain reminisces about a past Jasadi Champion and displays his unbreakable, raven-topped scepter, reaffirming his contempt for magic. The tension mounts as Sylvia restrains her power and Vaun’s barely veiled malice fails to expose her.
The supper ends with Rawain expressing confidence in Sylvia’s performance in the second trial and kissing her forehead, a chilling claim of ownership. Sylvia leaves having protected her secret, advanced a plan to steal Vaida’s seal, and deepened her fraught bond with Arin.
Who Appears
- Sylvia (Essiya)Protagonist; recovers from poison, plans to steal Vaida’s seal, endures Rawain’s probing, and conceals her Jasadi identity.
- Supreme RawainNizahl ruler; intrudes on Sylvia, orchestrates an interrogation supper with Vaun, suspects she is Jasadi, exerts ominous control.
- ArinNizahl Heir and Commander; shields Sylvia from Rawain, discovers her scars, shows rare compassion, uneasy during the supper.
- VaunNizahl guardsman; arrives unexpectedly at supper, presses incriminating questions, seeks to expose Sylvia.
- SefaAlly; hears Sylvia’s plan to steal Vaida’s seal and avoid Nizahl, supports clearing the room during Sylvia’s breakdown.
- MarekAlly; patrolling with soldiers; backs Sefa in giving Sylvia space during her post-Rawain spiral.
- WesGuard; posted at the Orban supper door, alarmed by Vaun’s arrival.
- JeruGuard; stationed at the supper, shares Wes’s alarm at Vaun’s presence.