Contents
Chapter 14: Green Turning Black
Overview
Tar, in a violent breakdown, kills Iyn Ro. Hilo finds the scene, confronts Tar, and cannot bring himself to execute his brother-in-law.
Hilo strips Tar’s jade and exiles him, choosing mercy that will roil the clan. He restructures leadership and names Wen as his new Pillarman, redefining the role.
Summary
Roused by a frantic late-night call, Hilo follows a blood trail to a gravely wounded Tar, who confesses he has done something awful. Hilo secures Tar at his home, then goes to Tar’s apartment and discovers Iyn Ro murdered amid a wrecked, blood-splattered scene, confirming a catastrophic crime within No Peak.
Returning home, Hilo has Anden stabilize Tar while Fists guard him. Tar, distraught, recounts a drunken, jealous fight after Iyn said she was leaving and implied infidelity; he insists he never intended to kill her. Hilo recognizes that no excuse can undo the murder of a respected Fist and acknowledges his own role in shaping Tar into a brutal instrument.
Hilo leads Tar into the estate’s woods to execute clan justice. Unable to carry out the killing, Hilo rejects Tar’s offer to “handle it” himself and instead decrees exile: Tar will be stripped of jade and banished from Kekon forever, with his life forfeit if he returns. Hilo resolves to attribute the act to the Itches to placate the clan, while keeping Tar alive.
At dawn, Hilo tells Wen that Tar has been stripped and exiled, not executed, accepting the storm of clan anger to follow. He collects Tar’s jade, promising it will go to Maik Cam someday.
Determined to change course, Hilo reassigns Tar’s Nails back under Juen and restores the Pillarman’s traditional function as an adviser bridging jade and business. He asks Wen to become his Pillarman; Wen accepts with the clan oath, sealing a pivotal shift in No Peak’s leadership.
Who Appears
- Kaul HiloPillar of No Peak; finds Iyn murdered, spares Tar from execution, strips and exiles him, appoints Wen as Pillarman and restructures the clan.
- Maik TarPillarman who kills Iyn Ro during a drunken, jealous fight; begs for death but is stripped of jade and exiled.
- Kaul WenHilo’s wife; devastated by Tar’s crime, accepts Hilo’s request to become Pillarman, signaling a leadership shift.
- Iyn RoSenior Fist and Tar’s fiancée; found slain in her apartment after a violent struggle.
- JuenHorn; assists at the crime scene and will absorb Tar’s Nails back under his command.
- AndenClan physician; stabilizes Tar’s wounds and awaits Hilo’s decision.
- LottFist; helps secure Tar at Hilo’s house and stands watch.
- VinFist; accompanies Hilo to the apartment and assists with arrangements.