34 South

Siyu, newly freed after her sentence, recovers from childbirth as Tunuva visits to support her and newborn Lukiri. They discuss feeding, naming the child Lukiri, and Siyu’s plea for mercy for Anyso. Tunuva promises practical help and takes Lukiri to Imsurin, who prepares enriched milk.

Tunuva encounters Canthe, then decides to show her the Priory: the War Hall, armoury, Fire Chamber, sunrooms, training levels, children’s spaces, and rules surrounding the sacred burial chamber. Outside, Tunuva explains the Priory’s self-sufficiency and secrecy. With Ninuru, she takes Canthe through the Basin’s wonders, where the outing awakens Tunuva’s buried grief.

At a waterfall overlook, Tunuva confides the death of her birthson and Meren, recounting the storm that washed away spoor and Ninuru’s rescue. Canthe offers sympathy just as Esbar arrives, tense and protective, and ends the excursion. Back at the Priory, Esbar warns against being alone with Canthe; Tunuva urges compassion. Esbar reveals Saghul’s rapid, incurable illness and departs to tend her.

In the night, Ninuru scents “the black mountain.” Tunuva wakes Esbar, and they quietly gather Hidat, Izi Tamuten, and Imsurin while Balag watches Saghul. In the valley, beneath the sacred orange tree, they find a searing black boulder like those from Yaud. Esbar’s blade cannot cut it.

Tunuva presses her bare hand to the rock. The fruits flare; the boulder fractures, venting steam and Dreadmount stench, and Tunuva’s flame-proof hand is pitted and burned. The shell splits, revealing horns, cloven hooves, ember eyes, metal teeth, and a scaled tail—a screaming, unnatural creature hatches as the company braces to kill it.