Contents
Chapter Twenty-One: Arin
Overview
Waid Entair, a Bone Spinner, drags Arin through memories proving systemic magic-mining predates Jasad’s fall and implicates past rulers, including Rawain. Arin witnesses Sultana Nafeesa’s cruelty, the councils bartering mined magic, Niphran’s ruthless measures to protect Essiya, and Qayida Hanim torturing Sylvia. Back in the cell, Waid suggests the real sin is where stolen magic is sent, not the method.
Summary
Arin awakens in a vision conjured by Waid Entair, a Bone Spinner. In the Ivory Palace of centuries past, he witnesses a magic-mined farmer’s grotesque corpse and Sultana Nafeesa enthralling the widow into lovingly mutilating herself before ordering the couple discarded. The scene proves Lukub once sustained its Ruby Hounds with stolen Jasadi magic.
The vision shifts to a summit where rulers divide mined Jasadi magic. Rawain argues five percent is too little, while Jasadi rulers Malik Niyar and Malika Palia control the stores. Arin registers that multiple kingdoms, including his father’s Nizahl, relied on mined magic, revealing a long-standing, region-wide practice.
Further memories follow Niphran. Pursued by Dawoud, she flees with young Essiya, fearing Jasad’s rulers will mine Essiya’s potent magic. Niphran then has a welder bind Essiya’s power with permanent cuffs and immediately kills the welder to keep the act secret, showing her ruthless protection of her child.
A final vision shows Qayida Hanim whipping blindfolded Sylvia in Essam Woods. Sylvia endures in silence, then obediently cleans the whip, seeking forgiveness. The memory confirms Sylvia’s survival during imprisonment and the extremity of Hanim’s abuse.
Back in the Citadel cell, a fading Waid taunts Arin, implying that “mining” and “draining” are merely different names for the same theft—and that the crucial question is where the stolen magic is directed. Arin is left with damning revelations about historic complicity and Sylvia’s suffering.
Who Appears
- ArinCommander and POV; forced by Waid’s magic to witness historic magic-mining and Sylvia’s torture, confronting his father’s complicity.
- Waid EntairMufsid Bone Spinner; shows Arin memories from bones, revealing systemic theft of magic and hinting motive lies in its destination.
- Sultana NafeesaAncient Lukubi ruler; sustains Ruby Hounds by mining magic and uses illusion to torment a victim’s widow.
- Queen IsraArin’s mother; present at rulers’ council, anxious and controlled under Rawain’s grip.
- RawainSupreme of Nizahl; argues for a larger share of mined Jasadi magic, exposing his hypocrisy.
- Malik NiyarJasad’s ruler in the past; controls distribution of mined magic, limiting others to five percent.
- Malika PaliaJasad’s co-ruler; derides other kingdoms as beggars while bartering mined magic.
- Sultana BisaiLukub’s ruler in the council; protests changes from historic even splits of magic.
- King ToranOmal’s king; hotheaded, calls for violence during the council dispute.
- EmreOmal heir; bookish and uneasy at the council, later Essiya’s disinheriting father.
- Queen HananOmal’s queen; sharp-tongued, demands compensation for Jasad raids.
- NiphranFirst Jasad Heir; fears Essiya’s power will be mined, binds her magic and kills the welder to protect her.
- DawoudJasadi courtier; pursues Niphran, insists rulers would not harm an Heir, then hesitates.
- EssiyaNiphran’s daughter; later Qayida Hanim, once cuffed to seal her magic, becomes Sylvia’s abuser.
- Qayida HanimFuture identity of Essiya; viciously whips Sylvia in Essam Woods.
- SylviaJasad Heir; endures Hanim’s flogging in silence, confirming her brutal past survival.