Hadrian visits Tor Gibson in the scholiast’s cluttered cloister cell, reflecting on the order’s devotion to books, restricted technology, and ancient intellectual prestige. Hadrian admires Gibson and wants to become a scholiast, hoping knowledge, Cielcin language study, and travel might carry Hadrian beyond Lord Alistair Marlowe’s control.

Gibson, wary of surveillance and palace secrecy, switches languages and tells Hadrian that the news is forbidden to discuss. A retinue from the Wong-Hopper Consortium is due within the week, having diverted from its trade routes after receiving word through a QET wave.

Gibson reveals the cause: Cai Shen has been destroyed by the Cielcin. Hadrian is shocked but emotionally detached because the disaster is distant and abstract to him. Hadrian quickly understands the practical consequence: with Cai Shen gone, House Marlowe becomes the sector’s largest licensed uranium supplier, so the Consortium is coming to negotiate for access to the mines.

Hadrian realizes that Lord Alistair specifically kept this information from him despite Hadrian being heir. Gibson explains that orders restricted the news to those cleared by the propaganda corps or approved by the archon, and advises Hadrian to pretend ignorance while preparing for the coming meetings.

Hadrian asks whether the Cielcin attack was certain, and Gibson confirms that he, Alcuin, and the logothetes reviewed the footage at Lord Alistair’s command. Hadrian observes that Cai Shen is not on the main war frontier, suggesting the Cielcin are becoming bolder. When Hadrian asks whether Crispin knows about the Consortium, Gibson’s pitying look and nod confirm that Crispin has been trusted with what Hadrian was denied.