Contents
Chapter Fourteen
Overview
Neema, still reeling from Dragonscale, readies to depart but detours to Gaida Rack’s rooms. There she discovers Gaida murdered on the balcony, stabbed with Hurun-tooth, Ruko Valit’s dagger. Shaken yet decisive, Neema restores the scene and alerts the Hounds, igniting a political and diplomatic crisis on Festival morning.
Summary
Hours after collapsing, Neema wakes groggy to Benna and her chameleon Pink-Pink. Chef Ganstra has left farewell pastries, which bolster Neema as she readies to depart. Benna proudly reveals she earned nineteen silver tiles for the dress job; Neema insists Benna keep three. Neema asks Benna to pack and feed Pink-Pink while she seeks Contender Gaida Rack.
Neema goes to Gaida’s apartment, where Gaida’s anxious servant Navril fears waking her before the Festival’s Revelation of the Dragon Proxy. With no response from inside, Neema enters the shuttered, chaotic rooms. The mess suggests an afterparty, but no sign of Gaida. Hoping to locate Yaan Rack’s report, Neema searches, then opens the balcony shutters.
Outside, six large terracotta pots form a ring, one smeared with blood. Inside the circle lies Gaida, face down in her contender’s uniform, a knife in her back. Neema checks for signs of life—there are none. Doubting herself and the lingering effects of Dragonscale, she pulls the blade and confirms the Tiger’s eye sigil: Hurun-tooth, Ruko Valit’s dagger. A Scripture line echoes in her mind, but Neema rejects any omen.
Neema sorrowfully replaces the dagger in the wound to preserve the scene and whispers an apology to Gaida. She composes herself, returns to Navril, and reports that Gaida is dead. Taking charge, Neema orders Navril to fetch the Hounds—Vabras—thus initiating official protocols on the morning of the Festival.
Who Appears
- Neema KraaGroggy but determined; searches Gaida’s rooms and discovers Gaida murdered with Ruko’s dagger; initiates Hound protocols.
- Gaida RackRaven contender; found dead on her balcony, stabbed with Hurun-tooth; her murder triggers a crisis.
- NavrilGaida’s anxious servant; hesitates to disturb her; alerted by Neema and sent to summon the Hounds.
- BennaNeema’s helper; brings breakfast, reveals nineteen silver tiles, packs for Neema, feeds Pink-Pink.
- Pink-PinkNeema’s chameleon; wakes her by walking on her face; left in Benna’s care.
- Chef GanstraPrepares farewell pastries for Neema on Festival morning.