Contents
80 East
Overview
Dumai and Furtia return to a burning Seiiki and discover Emperor Jorodu dead, the crossbow destroyed, and child-Empress Suzumai enthroned under the River Lord’s regency. Pressured into exile, Dumai instead renounces her claim, vows to found a provincial court to defend the people, and departs for Mount Ipyeda.
Summary
After healing Furtia in a northern lake, Dumai flies east along the Empire’s coast, exhausted and wary of the dream-voice she now rejects. Approaching Seiiki, she finds vast wildfires, refugees fleeing inland, and dragons encircling Mount Ipyeda and Antuma to shield the capital.
At the palace, masked courtiers and guards in mourning grey reveal the truth: Emperor Jorodu has died of a red sickness after provincials rioted, destroyed the Lacustrine crossbow, and brought infection into the Inner Palace. With Dumai missing, the Council enthroned her nine-year-old sister, Suzumai, while the River Lord assumed regency.
The River Lord casts doubt on Dumai’s fitness and hints she brought danger home, pressing her to accept exile to Muysima. Suzumai begs for Dumai to stay. Recognizing the River Lord’s tightening control and rejecting the court’s corrosive games, Dumai kneels to Suzumai, affirms her rule, and refuses the throne.
Declaring loyalty to the people—especially the provinces of her mother’s origin—Dumai announces she will establish a court beyond Antuma to protect Seiiki until the comet’s end to the crisis. She exits before the River Lord can reframe her stance.
Outside, Nikeya confronts Dumai, urging her to feign submission to safeguard Suzumai. Dumai counters that self-exile on her terms serves Seiiki better and invites Nikeya to join her. Nikeya, bound to her power within the court, declines. Dumai apologizes for past words, asks Nikeya to watch over Suzumai, then mounts Furtia and departs for Mount Ipyeda without looking back.
Who Appears
- DumaiDragonrider returns to burning Seiiki, rejects court power, endorses Suzumai, and vows a provincial court before flying to Mount Ipyeda.
- The River Lord (Lord Kuposa)Regent orchestrating court control; frames Dumai as risk and pushes exile while backing Suzumai’s enthronement.
- SuzumaiNewly enthroned child Empress; begs for Dumai to stay, unknowingly under River Lord’s sway.
- NikeyaCourtier and ally; warns Dumai about the River Lord, declines to leave, agrees to protect Suzumai.
- Furtia StormcallerDragon healed enough to fly home; carries Dumai back to Antuma and on to Mount Ipyeda.
- Emperor JoroduRecently deceased; died after a provincial riot and red sickness breached the Inner Palace.
- Tukupa the SilverDragon seen helping shield Mount Ipyeda and the Rayonti Basin.