Chapter 46: Valuable Things

Wen is blindfolded and transported by barukan. On a foggy bridge over the Gondi River, Junior nearly executes her before Second Dog and another man return with metal cases. Instead of killing her, they force Wen to walk across the bridge, where Hami Tumashon and Cam meet her. Vin drives them away as Wen is warmed and stabilized.

Hami explains that the kidnappers traded Wen for money and jade and demand No Peak dismantle operations and evacuate Shotar within a week to release Shae. Wen connects this to overheard remarks and insists the handover is misdirection: the barukan never plan to return Shae, so No Peak must not withdraw and must keep searching.

Cut to Shae, bound, gagged, and suffering jade withdrawal. A Faltas captain and a young accomplice remove her gag and confirm Wen’s release, then press Shae for the identities of No Peak’s rats and paid officials, blaming No Peak for recent Matyos busts. Shae denies involvement and stalls without jade Perception to gauge lies or threats.

The captors chain Shae and the concussed Dudo in a large soaking tub and present two briefcases of cut jade—stolen from No Peak’s vaults. They pour the stones into the tub, restoring Shae’s senses in a surge before overwhelming her with catastrophic overexposure. She cannot summon control; her body convulses as pain mounts. Dudo screams as the Faltas captain coolly demands information, turning jade itself into an instrument of torture.