30. Beatings All Around

Returning to their quarters, Kinch and Hasp reunite with Princess Renata, who excitedly insists on playing Hoodman Blind. Blindfolded and armed with a whipstick, Princess Renata strikes at the jingling fools. Hasp and Kinch initially suffer painful blows, then adapt by stuffing dirt into ankle bells and controlling hat bells to misdirect her.

As the game turns rough, Hasp interposes himself to protect Kinch and absorbs strikes across his back. Kinch steals the hood momentarily by climbing Renata, but once the princess tires and can no longer catch them, she angrily ends the game and storms off.

Inside, Renata vents her frustration on the kitchen staff, knocking utensils and pots to the floor while the servants endure it in silence. Near the ascender pit, Kinch and Hasp discover the chained geigon Pulhu bleeding from his foot; Renata broke her stick and jabbed him with the point, leaving him in pain and humiliation.

Moved by pity, Hasp organizes a small kindness. With help from his lover Xander, he fills his hat with blueberries and gently feeds them to Pulhu, who brightens at the rare sweetness. Hasp’s jingling hat fades as the giant smiles through tears and rust from his chains.

Back in the room, Hasp reveals he cushioned the earlier flogging with thin books hidden under his doublet and advises Kinch to treasure books, then collapses into exhausted sleep. Kinch hides a brass hair pin stolen from Renata, along with a nail, and begins carving a candle, intent on making something for a future purpose.