Chapter 13 (There is great wisdom in)

Anna Corrino reflects on a lifetime of hearing disembodied voices, a trait that Lady Orenna once encouraged by revealing Anna’s mother, Bridgit Arquettas, had Sorceress blood from Rossak. As a child, Anna bonded with Orenna and a psychically sensitive fogwood tree she could shape with her mind, feeling seen and protected despite palace gossip.

Now on Lampadas after surviving the Rossak poison, Anna’s mind is kaleidoscopic—fractured yet vivid. She recalls a palace incident where she raised the alarm after finding Orenna with Toure Bomoko, then was forced by Emperor Jules to witness brutal executions, later doubting whether the act she saw had been a rape. Between flashes, she performs Mentat pattern exercises with ease, names every student, and suppresses floods of unnecessary details.

Her memories widen beyond her own life: firsthand images from Bridgit’s youth on Rossak and Ecaz, seduction by the young Emperor Jules, and a lineage of women stretching back through the Jihad. Though she failed to become a Reverend Mother, the Rossak drug unlocked ancestral female-line memories—some alluring, some horrifying. She also recalls her broken romance with palace chef Hirondo Nef and her isolation despite occasional visits from family.

That night in her private room, Anna lies down and hears a gentle male voice beside her ear, offering to help organize her thoughts and bring clarity. Longing for a friend, she listens to the assurances and drifts into sleep, receptive to guidance.

Meanwhile, with Gilbertus Albans away after Manford’s summons, Erasmus—reduced to a hidden memory core—monitors the school through a web of micro spy-eyes and secret conduits he installed without Gilbertus’s full knowledge. Seizing the opportunity, Erasmus contacts Anna via implanted speakers, concealing his identity and presenting himself as a soothing mentor. He plans to deepen the connection and make significant progress with her before Gilbertus returns.