Contents
25 South
Overview
Tunuva travels to Nzene to urge preparations after the Dreadmount’s eruption, but finds Gashan Janudin assimilated into court politics and skeptical of Priory doctrine. High Ruler Kediko dismisses the wyrm threat, brands the Priory a dangerous separatist force, rejects Siyu as armed handmaiden, yet permits a search of the sacred Godsblades.
The encounter fractures trust between the Priory and Lasia, leaving Tunuva to report Gashan’s dereliction and face a ruler set against alliance just as danger looms.
Summary
Tunuva arrives in Nzene amid an unusually long, dust-dimmed season and expects fear after the Dreadmount’s eruption. Instead, the city is carefree. She intends to meet protector Gashan Janudin before seeing High Ruler Kediko Onjenyu, hoping to secure Lasian readiness.
Reunited in the Upper Palace, Tunuva finds Gashan transformed from elite sister to adorned courtier and Royal Councillor. Gashan downplays the Dreadmount and questions Priory history, implying Cleolind’s story may be embellished. Tunuva, troubled by Gashan’s skepticism and priorities, proceeds to the audience alone.
Kediko receives Tunuva coolly. When she warns of winged beings rising from the Dreadmount, he refuses to alarm Nzene without visible proof, asserting he has a strong army and disparaging the Priory as an outdated, separatist force that resists Lasian law. He suggests Cleolind could have had heirs, casting the Priory as a potential usurper’s cradle.
Pressed on defenses, Kediko declines to ready the city or accept additional sisters and pointedly refuses the Priory’s plan to place Siyu as armed handmaiden to his daughter. He permits only a search of the sacred Godsblades for disappearances tied to hot springs, then dismisses Tunuva.
Reeling, Tunuva confronts Gashan, accusing her of failing her duty and enabling Kediko’s disbelief. Gashan admits she will not be the Priory’s prisoner and implies she warned against Siyu. Tunuva resolves to report Gashan’s dereliction to the Prioress, leaving Nzene with the alliance weakened and Lasia unprepared.
Who Appears
- Tunuva MelimPriory sister; urges Lasia to prepare for wyrms; requests to search the Godsblades; clashes with Gashan and Kediko.
- Kediko OnjenyuHigh Ruler of Lasia; dismisses wyrm threat, denounces the Priory, refuses Siyu’s posting, but permits mountain searches.
- Gashan JanudinFormer elite Priory warrior, now Royal Councillor; skeptical of Priory doctrine; prioritizes court duties over vows.
- HidatTunuva’s companion; remains at the Priory house, present in Nzene but kept from the audience.