Chapter Thirteen

Neema slips past the night watch into the inner sanctum, compelled toward the ceiling’s Awakening Dragon painting. Overwhelmed by heat, visions, and a sense of destructive purpose, she invites the Dragon’s fire—only to be interrupted by Cain, who has been sitting in the dark with a small bag.

When Neema impulsively kisses him, Cain recognizes her condition: she has been dosed with Dragonscale, a rare ritual fungus oil used by Dragons. Realizing the oil is on her skin—likely from her bath—he forces open a window to the emperor’s private garden and orders her into ornamental ponds to scrub with pumice and rinse off the drug.

As Neema washes, fish in the first pond succumb to the oil. The worst of the effects subside, and Cain provides overalls and boots from a shed. Neema, reasoning that no one could predict Benna would pour the entire bottle, suspects “Generic,” her privately named former assistant with access and funds. Cain guides her away from the palace for safety.

On a service path, hissing reveals Pink-Pink inside Cain’s bag. Cain admits “kidnapping” the chameleon in wounded jest; Neema recovers Pink-Pink, and Cain departs for the night’s revels with a brief, sincere farewell.

Near her lodgings, Neema encounters Fenn, who apologizes for the night’s debacle and suggests leaving might be a blessing. With four and a half hours until the last boat, Neema intends to plead with Gaida at dawn but, drained by the ordeal, collapses into sleep.