Chapter 20

Rin leads the Southern Army into Dog Province’s Scarigon Plateau, finding barren steppe and no promised allies. They spot a settlement and meet the new Dog Warlord, Quan Cholang, whose father was likely killed after resisting Vaisra. Cholang explains Dog’s poverty, sparse forces, and Hesperian interest in the plateau’s minerals.

Rin seeks an alliance but learns Cholang cannot field an army; he offers food, medical help, and, crucially, a guide toward Mount Tianshan. Rin and Kitay accept his quarters for the night, privately reaffirming their grim decision to wake Riga despite the risks and Jiang’s warnings, believing the Trifecta are their only chance against the Republic and Hesperians.

That night, Chaghan secretly enters with Cholang’s quiet consent and escorts Rin to a nearby Ketreyid camp. Claiming leadership of the newly united Hundred Clans, he insists they speak. He administers spirit powder and brings Rin to the twilight plane to meet Hanelai—the fiery, furious Speerly dead bound by rage.

Through a barrage of voices, Hanelai’s testimony reveals that the Mugen Federation kidnapped Speerly children to extort shamanic secrets; Riga, believing Hanelai would divulge them, allowed the Speer massacre to prevent that knowledge transfer. Chaghan urges Rin to abandon waking Riga. Overwhelmed, Rin breaks the vision and confronts Chaghan.

Rin rejects the warning, arguing that without the Trifecta she cannot defeat the Republic or Hesperians, and vows to ascend Tianshan at dawn. Chaghan refuses to attack her but declares his archers will be ready to shoot whatever emerges from the mountain—so long as it isn’t Rin—setting the stage for a perilous awakening.