Contents
84 East
Overview
Dumai and allied dragons fight to save Ginura, then redirect survivors to refuge in Mayupora Forest. In the forest camp, Rituyka reveals the River Lord hid the gifted bed crossbow, prompting Dumai to enlist clans to rebuild it. Unora compels Dumai to rest. A final arrival—Nikeya—reaches Dumai, signaling a personal turn.
Summary
Amid rain called by Furtia Stormcaller, Dumai rides with allied dragons over burning Ginura, where wyrms and desecrated beasts ravage the city. Seeing its vulnerability and the swelling casualties, Dumai lands on the beach, rallies survivors, and commands an organized retreat to Mayupora Forest under Lady Mithara’s guidance, prioritizing people over possessions.
Furtia escorts the exodus while Dumai travels to the concealed forest court near Tukupa the Silver’s cave. She surveys the growing camps hidden at former dragon resting sites, acknowledging the island’s famine, plague, and relentless attacks, and banking hope on the approaching comet. Despite mounting losses among dragons, Dumai resolves to shield what remains.
In the cave’s infirmary, Rituyka reports stolen grain and wine for the camp and reveals a critical betrayal: the River Lord secretly kept the Lacustrine bed crossbow, claiming it destroyed. Outraged but pragmatic, Dumai orders Rituyka to rally Lady Mithara and Lord Tajorin to assess and reconstruct the weapon, with the aim to produce more for defense.
As evening falls, Dumai eats with refugees, listens to a tale of the Mulberry Queen, and confronts her limits. Unora insists she rest or risk fatal mistakes; Dumai agrees to recover her strength before returning to the skies.
In the night, a near-dead horse and rider arrive at the forest’s edge. The grimy young woman stirs, and, to Dumai’s shock, identifies herself: Nikeya has found her, heralding a new, intimate development within the wider war.
Who Appears
- DumaiDragon-bonded leader who evacuates Ginura, consolidates forest refuges, plans siege engine reconstruction, and agrees to rest.
- UnoraDumai’s mother; organizes the camp, counsels restraint and recovery, and helps coordinate supplies and safety.
- Furtia StormcallerDragon ally who brings rain, fights wyrms, protects evacuations, and watches over refugees.
- RituykaOutlaw-ally who delivers grain and wine and exposes the River Lord’s hidden bed crossbow.
- Lady MitharaClan leader guiding refugees to Mayupora; to help assess and rebuild the siege engine.
- River Lord (Regent)Antagonistic regent who hoarded the bed crossbow, undermining Dumai’s defenses.
- NikeyaExhausted survivor who reaches Dumai at night, declaring she has found her.
- IyoGrieving girl comforted and fed by Dumai amid campfire stories.
- Burmina the SplendidDragon ally who battles a wyrm during the defense of Ginura.
- Pajati the WhiteDragon whose voice echoes the comet’s approach among the allied flight.