Contents
Chapter Twenty-Seven: Marek
Overview
Exhausted from fighting monsters at Galim’s Bend, Marek is quartered at the opulent Shinawy manor. Realizing Jeru placed him there to uncover a Siege of Six Dawns insignia, Marek courts Mira Shinawy to gain her confidence. After Gigi retires, Marek and Mira become intimate, advancing his covert objective.
Summary
Marek, filthy and battered from battling zulal and nisnas at Galim’s Bend, rides into Nizahl’s affluent upper towns with other soldiers bound for noble billets. Amid the luxury, he recalls his fallen Lazur siblings and his own resolve to live, not die a hero. He worries about being recognized as Caleb Lazur but proceeds to his assigned manor.
At the door, Gigi Shinawy greets Marek and servants strip and scrub him. Dressed anew, Marek meets Gigi and her mother, Mira, in a lavish sitting room. While enduring calming tea and small talk, he notes Mira’s commanding attention and Gigi’s eager chatter.
When Marek learns the household is the Shinawy manor, he recognizes Jeru’s design: Marek had been sent here to locate a missing insignia from the Siege of Six Dawns. He resolves to use his charm, as he has for Jeru before, to win the noblewomen’s trust and uncover information that could help find Sefa.
After Gigi retires, Mira initiates a seductive advance. Marek reciprocates, letting the liaison deepen as they move to her chambers. Their intimacy begins, with Marek intent on turning the encounter into access and answers about the sought insignia.
Who Appears
- Marek (Caleb Lazur)Soldier recovering from Galim’s Bend; uses charm at Shinawy manor to find a missing siege insignia for Jeru and Sefa.
- Mira ShinawyCommanding lady of the house; drawn to Marek and becomes intimate, potential source on the missing insignia.
- Gigi ShinawyMira’s daughter; warmly greets Marek and hosts him before retiring, establishing the household setting.
- JeruMarek’s handler; strategically billets him at the Shinawy manor to locate a Siege of Six Dawns insignia.
- SefaMarek’s beloved; his drive to find her motivates his mission to secure information from the Shinawys.