Chapter 1

Aris slips through the crowd in Nightfell toward the black, silver-flecked platform where the Questral candidates must reach within ten hawk-cries. She hides a Starside-steel dagger and avoids attention as guards butcher hopefuls. When a lecherous spectator exposes her path and the hawk signals the start, chaos erupts; volunteers die against silver blades and the cremation pyre roars.

Using the confusion, Aris advances, saving a starving child by intercepting a guard’s strike. Her dagger shatters the guard’s silver sword, stunning the crowd and revealing her weapon’s superiority. More challengers rush her; Aris destroys lesser metals and maims the man who groped her by severing his hands, halting further attacks.

At the platform, Pagnus Ender of House Ender dismisses her, then suddenly strikes; Aris outmaneuvers him and wounds his leg before flinging herself onto the stone. He halts his killing blow an inch from her face, promising to see her in the Culling, and steps up beside her. Aris meets Kira of Brambleside, admits she is from ruined Silverside, and steadies herself amid the mounting bodies.

The crowd falls silent as Harlan Raker, masked leader of the king’s guard, arrives. His Starside-steel sword and reputation part the masses; he steps onto the platform unchallenged, signaling heightened stakes. The hawk completes the final cry, ending the window to qualify.

The Watchman counts 226 challengers. He anoints each with ash and asks for commitment. Despite Stellan’s silent pleas, Aris says yes, accepting the Culling. She looks skyward, hardening her resolve. Her goal is not riches or immortality—she intends to cross Starside and kill the gods.