Four

Rickar wakes from a nightmare of Anjiin and Dennia’s death, forces himself up in his cell, and confronts hunger and the precariousness of life aboard a Carryx warship. He reflects on restricted movement, constant threat for disobedience, and the strain of holding himself together.

In the common room, Rickar exchanges news with Vaudai, who infers their ship is part of an exploratory body likely bound for active war. The impersonal dispensers deliver unappetizing rations, reinforcing their lack of agency. Rickar waits for Campar, the only familiar anchor left to him.

Elsewhere, Campar leaves Ghati’s bed under agreed boundaries, savoring fleeting comfort within captivity. He visits the common room, assesses the tense social dynamics among other humans, and sits with Rickar. Their talk weighs short-term solace against inevitable loss; Rickar warns against getting hurt, while Campar argues for grasping brief joys despite looming violence.

Tension spikes when a Sinen enters with a Rak-hund, triggering memories of executions and silencing the room. After addressing the Budon of Luus, the Sinen’s message is relayed by half-minds: they have entered conflict space and must prepare for possible violence. The announcement confirms their peril and destination.

As fear settles over the captives, Ghati arrives seeking food, and Campar, frayed by dread and absurdity, breaks into uneasy laughter. The chapter closes with the crew braced for combat conditions, their fragile coping mechanisms laid bare.