Chapter 32

Rin wakes in Arlong’s palace, newly secure and determined to lead. She and Kitay assess Nezha’s retreat to Speer and the Hesperians’ temporary withdrawal. Rin insists the west will return and pushes to prepare for renewed war, but immediate civil collapse forces her to focus on rebuilding.

Rin, Kitay, and Venka scramble to stabilize Arlong: rescuing flood victims, reopening triage centers, feeding displaced crowds, and reconstituting administration with a mix of southern soldiers and Republican staff. Nezha’s meticulous papers prove invaluable, complicating Rin’s view of him. Midday, a palace-cooked lunch is suspected; Kitay tests it on a lapdog, which dies. The head cook is executed, and Rin’s paranoia spikes.

Nezha’s letter arrives, eerily predicting the poisoning and offering specific administrative tips. Kitay argues Nezha is guessing and using informants, not spying from within the palace. Still, fear grips Rin as citywide crises mount: famine, disease, banditry, and unrest. Nights blur into drunken planning sessions and grand reforms; mornings bring headaches and grim reports. Moag refuses quick grain; enlistment surges due to rations, sparking barracks conflicts.

Nezha’s relentless missives alternate between taunts and useful advice, always ending with offers of grain for concessions. Rin reads them compulsively, growing more anxious and sleep-deprived. Venka urges her to stop.

When Venka uses a phrase matching Nezha’s latest letter, Rin—frayed and suspicious—accuses Venka of being Nezha’s mole, citing past coincidences. As tempers flare, Venka suddenly warns, “Get down,” and lunges to protect Rin. A crossbow bolt slams into Venka’s neck. Another shot misses Kitay. Rin incinerates the assassin outside the shattered window, then realizes too late Venka had been saving her.