Chapter 42

In Tevanne’s judiciary chambers, Ofelia Dandolo declares Orso guilty of warlike crimes and moves to sentence him to death by harpering. Orso interrupts, citing legal requirements for unanimous consent from all active merchant houses. He reveals the chartering of Foundryside Limited, a new merchant house without committee representation, invalidating the sentence.

Ofelia warns that new houses are crushed and that Orso can be retried if his house fails, but Orso counters that toppling Candiano makes Foundryside a dangerous target to provoke. The hearing ends with Orso’s tactical victory and the court unsettled.

Two days later, Sancia arrives at the former Diestro rookery, now bustling as Foundryside Limited. Orso has partnered with Claudia, Giovanni, and the Scrappers, offering ownership shares and leveraging his Candiano expertise to secure early supply deals, while bracing for retaliation from rival houses.

Orso offers Sancia a position tantamount to founder status but encourages her to choose freely. Sancia reveals Gregor Dandolo survived, is secretly in her care, and appears to be a scrived human who resisted lethal programming, leaving him broken and mute. Orso agrees to take Gregor in and, if possible, make him chief of security.

Sancia then produces Clef, now silent and nonfunctional, and insists his repair is essential to understanding recent events. Orso accepts that fixing Clef becomes part of any arrangement. Learning Berenice is already overseeing construction, Sancia weighs her decision, knowing Berenice is waiting on her answer.