Contents
67 West
Overview
Tunuva and Canthe reach besieged Arondine, learn Wulfert survived the fleet’s destruction, and their shared grief leads to a near-intimacy Tunuva refuses. In parallel, Queen Glorian dreams of her mother foretelling spring deliverance and keeps this secret while preparing defenses.
Prince Guma arrives with grain and dowry; Glorian masks her knowledge of his treachery with Robart, choosing to wait and strike at the right moment amid worsening scarcity.
Summary
Tunuva and Canthe enter overcrowded, mourning Arondine under plague precautions. They glimpse Queen Glorian and Marian near Hyll Sanctuary and reflect on Inys beliefs rooted in Galian’s lie, which unsettles Tunuva. In Canthe’s safehouse, Canthe confirms news: Wulfert Glenn alone survived the burned fleet and warned Glorian, likely spared by his siden-blood warmth. Tunuva resolves to find him and tell him the truth.
Shared loss draws Canthe to kiss Tunuva. Though briefly reciprocated, Tunuva halts, still bound to Esbar. They part into an uneasy quiet; by morning Canthe has slipped out, leaving Tunuva with remorse yet clarity about her loyalties and purpose.
Elsewhere, Glorian wakes in the night to an apparition of her mother, Sabran, who prophesies that on the first day of spring a star will herald rain; wyrms will fall asleep and storms will quench fires. Sabran warns Glorian to keep secret the guiding “sister” voice. Glorian accepts the solace and the secrecy.
At breakfast, Marian confirms food is dwindling and proposes price controls and rationing. News comes that Prince Guma nears Arondine. Glorian, having dismissed her lover to avoid pregnancy complications, chooses to conceal her knowledge of Guma’s plot with Robart and to wait for the right moment. She inspects fortifications and militias, arranges taxes to be offset by her consort’s dowry, and receives Guma at dusk. He brings grain and wealth; Glorian masks Robart’s arrest as plague, and Guma betrays nothing. Glorian prepares to act when advantageous.
Who Appears
- Tunuva MelimArrives in Arondine with Canthe; learns Wulfert survived; rejects Canthe’s advance, reaffirming loyalty to Esbar while vowing to find her birthson.
- Queen Glorian BerethnetDreams a prophetic visitation from her mother; manages famine and defenses; conceals knowledge of Guma’s plot and receives him strategically.
- CantheGuides Tunuva to Arondine; confirms Wulfert’s survival; initiates intimacy born of grief but withdraws when Tunuva refuses; leaves before dawn.
- Marian BerethnetFormer queen and regent; discusses rationing and secrecy about Glorian’s dream; supports delaying action against Guma.
- Guma VetaldaHigh Prince of Yscalin and Glorian’s consort; arrives with grain and dowry; keeps composure when told Robart is ‘plagued’; unaware Glorian knows his plot.
- Sabran VI (apparition)Glorian’s mother appears in a dream, prophesying spring rains and sleeping wyrms and warning secrecy about the guiding voice.
- Leodyn EllerDuchess of Generosity; raises tax concerns, enabling Glorian to assign costs to Guma’s dowry.
- FlorellCourtier who announces Prince Guma’s imminent arrival to Glorian and Marian.