Chapter Sixty-Six: Inan

Haunted by Zélie’s screams through their lingering bond, Inan goes to King Saran’s commandeered quarters determined to save her. He refuses to label Saran’s brutality as interrogation, provoking the king’s cold justification for breaking a “maggot’s” will. Saran marks targets on a map and boasts that Zélie revealed the scroll can only be destroyed with magic, intending to force her to do it.

When Saran adds that Zélie killed Kaea, Inan reels. Saran presents a blood-stained turquoise crystal from Kaea’s hair—the scent of a soul—misattributing evidence that Inan recognizes as the residue of his own magic. Saran commands Inan to kill Amari when found, unable to forgive her supposed role in Kaea’s death.

Pressing for Zélie’s fate, Inan learns the plan: use her to retrieve the scroll from Tzain, compel her to destroy it, then execute her and parade her corpse to suppress rebellion. Inan proposes a different path—improving divîner conditions and using Zélie as a controlled ambassador—hoping to spare her life.

Saran rejects this, recounting his father’s death at maji hands and insisting repression is the only safeguard, citing the Burner’s massacre. He unexpectedly embraces Inan, praising his resolve and foretelling his greatness as king. Inan leaves outwardly affirmed yet inwardly shattered, collapsing outside the door and silently committing to save Zélie despite his father’s orders.