Contents
Chapter Five
Overview
On Festival Eve, High Scholar Neema scrambles to perfect the opening ceremony while her pet chameleon goes missing. She unexpectedly sees Princess Yasila at Neema’s former balcony and, warned by Engineer Fenn, chooses to conceal it. Fenn confirms Ruko’s return as a Fox contender, heightening tensions as Bersun prepares to abdicate and Neema readies to depart with him.
Summary
Neema recalls how Emperor Bersun foisted a mysterious chameleon, Pink-Pink, on her three years earlier—one constant companion amid her lonely rise to High Scholar and the lingering guilt of scribing an Exile. On Festival Eve, with seven contenders arriving and her ceremony to run, she oversleeps after a double dose of sleep remedy and discovers Pink-Pink is missing.
Pressed for time, Neema spars verbally with her useless assistant Janric and checks likely hideaways, including a service path by the bins. An Oxwoman gardener discreetly points her there for cockroaches, Pink-Pink’s favorite snack. The search drags Neema past her painful past: the balcony of her old junior quarters, stirring memories and unease.
Neema unexpectedly sees Princess Yasila—now Majan—briefly appear on that balcony, despite Yasila’s reclusive life caring for her ailing daughter Nisthala in the imperial suite. The sight triggers a strange, airy sensation that Neema forcibly dismisses. She notes the current occupant, Marius Au of Speculation, has left months earlier, making Yasila’s presence more suspicious.
High Engineer Fenn Fedala arrives furious that Neema is late, but their tension shifts when he reveals Ruko Valit is on the island. Bound by the silence imposed by Exile, Neema can’t speak openly of his past betrayal. When Neema mentions seeing Yasila, Fenn orders her to forget it, warning that Valits bring trouble; Neema reluctantly lies that she saw nothing.
Amid oppressive heat and court pressure, stakes sharpen: Ruko has returned as the Fox contender and is a favorite alongside Cain Ballari. Bersun plans to abdicate and head to Anat-garra, inviting Neema to assist with his memoirs—her path away from court. Pink-Pink remains missing, and Neema carries the secret of Yasila’s appearance into a volatile Festival.
Who Appears
- Neema KraaHigh Scholar organizing Festival Eve; searches for Pink-Pink; secretly sees Yasila on her old balcony; conceals it at Fenn’s urging; plans to leave with Bersun.
- Fenn FedalaHigh Engineer, exhausted and irritable; confirms Ruko’s presence; orders Neema to forget seeing Yasila.
- Princess Yasila MajanYana and Ruko’s mother; reclusive; briefly appears on Neema’s former balcony, raising suspicion.
- Pink-PinkEmperor’s chameleon and Neema’s companion; fails to wake her and goes missing on Festival Eve.
- Janric TursulNeema’s indolent assistant; eats her breakfast, offers no help; departing to support the Raven contender.
- Emperor BersunAbdicating after twenty-four years; invites Neema to Anat-garra to help write his memoirs.
- Ruko ValitReturned as Fox contender and favorite; his presence intensifies tensions tied to past betrayal.
- Cain BallariFox contender and favorite alongside Ruko; Neema dreads seeing him again at the ceremony.
- NisthalaYasila’s daughter; long-ill and secluded in the imperial suite, focal point of Yasila’s reclusion.
- Oxwoman gardenerCourtyard worker who discreetly suggests searching by the bins for Pink-Pink’s likely roach-hunting.
- Marius AuFormer occupant of Neema’s old room from the Office of Speculation; left months ago.