Contents
Chapter 56: Like Castles of Ice
Overview
Hadrian witnesses the arrival of a colossal Cielcin worldship and translates as Kharn Sagara negotiates with a herald. Sagara reveals a "gift" of human slaves—supplied by Smythe’s bargain—incensing Hadrian. The herald demands Tanaran; Sagara stalls, orchestrates security inspections, and subtly manipulates Hadrian’s rift with the Imperium.
Summary
Hadrian follows Yume into a shadowed bridge aboard Kharn Sagara’s Demiurge, joining Sagara, Raine Smythe, and Crossflane as a projection displays local space. Opposite the Imperial cohort, a vast Cielcin worldship appears, dwarfing even the Demiurge. A holographic Cielcin herald manifests, demanding to address Sagara alone.
Sagara replies fluently in the Cielcin tongue, establishing terms: both sides’ fleets hold position while only representatives board. The herald announces it speaks for Prince Aeta Aranata Otiolo. As negotiations turn to security checks, Sagara declares he has prepared a “gift” for the Aeta.
Translating, Hadrian realizes the gift is thousands of human slaves. He confronts Smythe, who admits she promised Sagara twenty thousand colonial “storehouse” sleepers to secure this parley for the Imperium. Hadrian is appalled, while Smythe defends the sacrifice as necessary.
The herald demands Tanaran; Sagara lies that Tanaran is in human hands and cannot be produced now, placating the Aeta with promises and permission for Cielcin security to inspect the Demiurge. After the transmission ends, Sagara directs Smythe to permit a pre-interview with prisoners when the Cielcin board, asserting refusal would provoke the Aeta.
As Smythe and Crossflane discuss logistics, Sagara silently projects images into Hadrian’s mind—freighter holds of sleeping colonists—pressing on Hadrian’s disgust and isolating him from the Imperials. Hadrian resolves, despite human monstrosities, to defend humanity against the Cielcin and stand his ground.
Who Appears
- Hadrian MarlowePOV narrator; translates Cielcin speech, discovers Smythe traded 20,000 colonists, confronts her, and resists Sagara’s mental manipulation.
- Kharn SagaraUndying master of the Demiurge; negotiates with Cielcin, offers human slaves as a gift, lies about Tanaran, orchestrates inspections, probes Hadrian’s loyalties.
- Raine SmytheImperial knight-tribune; arrives with cohort, admits promising 20,000 colonial sleepers to Sagara to secure talks, holds Tanaran, follows Sagara’s plan.
- CrossflaneSmythe’s first officer; participates in the meeting, justifies use of colonial stores, manages logistics with Sagara.
- Cielcin herald (coteliho)Envoy for Aeta Aranata; demands limited human presence, accepts inspections, requests Tanaran, confirms the Aeta’s imminent arrival.
- YumeGolem guide; leads Hadrian to the meeting and later removes Sagara’s children from the chamber.
- SuzuhaOne of Sagara’s children; present during the parley, steadied by Sagara when the herald demands Tanaran.
- RenOne of Sagara’s children; lingers by Sagara’s throne during the negotiations.
- Prince Aeta Utsebimn Aranata OtioloCielcin prince and master of the herald; offstage power whose arrival is anticipated and for whom the slave ‘gift’ is intended.
- TanaranCielcin captive held by the Imperials; requested by the herald, used as leverage in Sagara’s stalling.