Contents
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Overview
Ruko secretly visits Neema, who reveals Gaida was stabbed after death, easing fears of the Blade’s curse. Ruko produces Yana’s mutilated Exile Order and suspects his mother, Yasila. Neema links multiple attacks to Yana’s exile. The Raven then records Yasila’s history—raised by Dragons, thief of potent Dragonscale, and wielder of binding magic—establishing her motive and means.
Summary
The Raven watches Neema sleep and tries to send a nightmare, but Neema is too deeply asleep. Ruko Valit slips into her room; the Raven warns him and Neema awakens, furious. After forcing Ruko to keep his distance, Neema arms herself with light and whisky and demands answers.
They spar verbally about safety and rumor before turning to Gaida’s murder. Neema states Gaida was poisoned or drugged, then suffocated, and only stabbed after death, dispelling fears of the Blade’s curse. Ruko, visibly relieved, accepts a drink and listens as Neema outlines suspicions of Rivenna; he deflects, insisting Gaida posed no threat to him.
Neema deduces Ruko was lured out and told to leave the Blade. Ruko produces Yana Valit’s Order of Exile, authenticated earlier, with her name cut out, and admits he thought Yana summoned him. Neema recounts Yana’s verified death in Dolrun. Ruko refuses the document back and concludes Yasila likely sent it and may have framed him. Neema notes a pattern: Ruko tricked, Shal poisoned, Neema drugged—all tied to Yana’s exile—and plans to question Abbess Glorren while seeking stronger evidence.
Discussing Neema’s Dragonscale intoxication, Ruko confirms his mother’s history explains such effects and warns of her danger. He claims the Raven protects Neema, then departs. Neema returns to bed as the Raven, impatient, decides to write a story in Neema’s book.
The Raven’s tale reveals Yasila’s origin: shipwrecked with her parents on Helia, taken by the Dragons as a hostage child, raised UnChosen under Jadu’s cold authority. Ignored but observant, Yasila learned their secrets, befriended Pyke, and eventually escaped, stealing the Dragons’ rare, Dolrun-derived Dragonscale oil.
Yasila sought Andren Valit, traded her fortune and marriage for protection, coerced her mother Marana into renunciation, and secured a yearly-oil truce with the Dragons. After Andren’s downfall and death, Visitor Pyke arrived to reclaim Yasila. She bound him with a song-based spell amplified by Dragonscale, dosed him, forced his confession of love, carved her initial into his cheek, and sent him away with a lethal warning—proving her motive, means, and resolve.
Who Appears
- Neema KraaScholar-contender; awakens to Ruko’s visit, reveals Gaida was stabbed post-mortem, connects coordinated attacks to Yana’s exile, plans to question Rivenna.
- Ruko ValitTiger contender; intrudes to talk, relieved by curse dispelled, presents Yana’s Exile Order, suspects his mother Yasila, explains Dragonscale’s effects.
- The RavenNarrator-presence; tries to invade Neema’s dreams, confronts Ruko, then writes Yasila’s backstory into Neema’s book.
- Yasila ValitRuko’s mother; backstory reveals Helia upbringing, theft of potent Dragonscale, strategic marriage to Andren, binding magic, ruthless protection of family.
- Yanara (Yana) ValitRuko’s twin; her verified death in Dolrun frames the Exile Order revelation and the revenge motive.
- Visitor PykeDragon emissary and Yasila’s childhood friend; bound and drugged by Yasila, forced to confess love, sent back scarred.
- JaduDragon Servant of Helia; takes Yasila as hostage child, underestimates her, later sends Pyke to retrieve her.
- Andren ValitSamra’s former governor; allies with Yasila, negotiates truce with Dragons, later executed, shaping Yasila’s peril.
- Princess MaranaYasila’s mother; sacrifices child to Dragons, later surrenders fortune and retires to penance at Yasila’s demand.
- Benna EdgeNeema’s assistant; off on an errand, her care improves Neema’s quarters and rest.
- Shal WorthyHound sergeant; exiled Yana and later poisoned; his report details Yana’s death and the Order’s cut name.
- GaidaRecent murder victim; Neema confirms death by drugging and suffocation before staged stabbing.