Contents
Chapter Forty-Three
Overview
The Tigers stage a strategy Trial that sidelines Cain to kitchen work, then someone unleashes Valira to kill him. Cain survives when Ruko intervenes and disavows the attack, sharpening rivalries. Over lunch, Rivenna pointedly elevates Havoc and humiliates Cain. Neema arrives guarded, defies Sol’s warnings, and faces Katsan’s vow of lethal vengeance as the contest shifts to the Ox palace.
Summary
Cain arrives at the immaculate Tiger palace and resents its curated perfection and the Tigers’ wealth. In the day’s Trial, starting ranks are set by archery: Havoc leads as “prince,” with Shal, Tala, and Katsan following; Cain is assigned to the staff kitchens. Accepting he cannot climb, Cain completes his menial tasks to bank one point and conserve energy.
The palace suddenly empties. Valira, the abbess’s tiger, is loosed into Cain’s kitchen. Cain holds his ground, locking eyes until Valira hesitates. Ruko enters, calms her, insists the ambush was not his doing, and warns Cain he is lucky to be alive.
At lunch under the vines, masked servants attend. Cain needles Abbess Rivenna about the attack; she answers with a cutting taunt about his mother and publicly favors Havoc with a golden Tiger. Cain’s mood darkens until Neema arrives, shadowed by a Hound on imperial orders due to her concussion. Sol, within Neema, urgently urges her to move; Neema pointedly ignores him until Sol bites her rib, forcing an awkward cover.
The pageantry shifts as the Tiger day ends and the Ox day begins across the bridge. Katsan confronts Neema about the halted investigation and vows to avenge her Sister in their bout, declaring “a life for a life,” while Neema offers no explanation.
Who Appears
- Cain BallariFox contender; forced into kitchen duty, survives Valira’s attack, clashes with Rivenna, steels himself for coming fights.
- Rivenna GlorrenTiger abbess; orchestrates Trial optics, publicly favors Havoc, taunts Cain about his past.
- RukoTiger champion; calms Valira, denies arranging the attack, asserts he fights his own battles.
- ValiraAbbess’s tiger; released into the kitchen to menace Cain, retreats when Ruko intervenes.
- Neema KraaRaven contender; arrives post-concussion under Hound guard, ignores Sol’s warnings, confronted by Katsan.
- SolRaven within Neema; urgently urges her to move away, bites her rib to force a response.
- Havoc (Contender Arbell-Ranor)Monkey contender; wins the strategy Trial’s top rank and receives Rivenna’s golden Tiger.
- ShalHound contender; performs modestly, observes Cain’s mood and Neema’s odd behavior.
- TalaBoar contender; remains head gardener in the Trial, skeptical yet wary of Cain’s tiger story.
- KatsanSword-focused contender; ranked mid, later vows to kill Neema to avenge her Sister.