Chapter 16

Orso suffers through a four-hour Tevanni council session on the Commons blackouts, irritated by dithering. Ofelia Dandolo pushes the room to consider a Tevanne-made cause. Orso cites the obscure Battle of Armiedes as a precedent for such effects, watching for any founder revealing surprise at his survival.

Tomas Ziani reframes the debate toward establishing an oversight body—anathema to the houses—effectively ending progress. Orso notices Tomas fixating on his scarf, recalling his recent assault. After the meeting, Ofelia questions sabotage, then warns Orso to keep his experimental light-absorbing scriving secret, implying it could attract dangerous attention.

In the corridors, Orso sends Berenice to rest and approaches Estelle Candiano (now Ziani), despite impropriety. They exchange barbed reminiscences: Tribuno Candiano is dying and disgraced; Estelle has been pushed out of scriving; Candiano’s former dominance has crumbled. Orso probes whether Candiano still holds Tribuno’s Occidental collection and whether Tomas consults Tribuno.

Pressed, Estelle admits she lacks access under Tomas’s control. Orso reveals bruising on his neck, implying a recent attempt on his life, and asks if Tomas could be behind it. After a fraught pause recalling that Orso once proposed marriage, Estelle promises to warn him if Tomas threatens him—even against Candiano interests.

Orso withdraws and watches as Tomas arrives. Estelle appears distant as her husband leads her away, underscoring her marginalization and Orso’s growing suspicion of Candiano’s role in the city’s escalating intrigues.