Contents
Chapter Seventeen
Overview
Fenn equips Neema in his old Ox uniform and outlines the Festival schedule, including the Fox Trial and Neema’s bout against Shal Worthy. He confirms he saw no one at the Raven palace the night Gaida died. In the transformed Festival Square, a hostile court boos Neema. She asserts authority by dismissing Janric, while Lord Kindry publicly supports yet privately undermines her, cementing tense factional lines ahead of the first Trial.
Summary
Fenn waits with a cedar box bearing his Ox sigil uniform. As Cain departs to regroup, Neema balks, then accepts wearing Fenn’s old contender garb, patching over the Ox. While she alters the clothes, Fenn reviews the day: morning fights, a Fox Trial in the imperial vaults after lunch, then afternoon fights. He reveals he was outside the Raven palace the previous night to console Neema after the ceremony, saw no one else, and noticed no movement at Gaida’s shutters.
Fenn breaks the news that Neema will fight Shal Worthy and must later choose weapons, reminding her the reinstated weapons round and “stop” rule were her own committee proposals. Neema panics about fighting at all, while Fenn bluntly prepares her for public ridicule and urges her to use the safety call if needed.
The narrative shifts to the Festival Square: the parade ground transformed into grand stands, a medical tent, and the central platform. Abbot Ish Fort informally inspects the ropes. The contenders line up: Shal looks ill; Havoc stands bold; Katsan Brundt is impassive and grieving; Tala Talaka draws energy from the crowd; Ruko radiates solitary certainty; Gaida’s absence leaves a gap; Cain surveys the scene.
Neema enters alone to boos and outrage. The Raven contingent, unaware of the emperor’s decision, view her as an interloper. Janric confronts her; Neema curtly dismisses him from the contingent. Lord Kindry then formalizes Neema’s status before the Flock while subtly belittling her prospects, warning that imperial indulgence may not last.
Stung but resolute, Neema commits to avoiding disgrace despite her ill-fitting uniform and inexperience, as tensions sharpen among factions on the eve of Trials and her fight with Shal.
Who Appears
- Neema KraaNewly named Raven contender; dons Fenn’s old uniform, learns schedule, panics about fighting Shal, dismisses Janric, resolves not to shame the Flock.
- FennHigh Engineer; provides his Ox uniform, outlines Festival and weapons rules; says he saw no one at the Raven palace; supports Neema pragmatically.
- Lord KindryRaven leader; publicly confirms Neema’s status while undermining her confidence and warning imperial favor may wane.
- JanricNeema’s former assistant; condemns her appointment and is summarily dismissed from the Raven contingent.
- Shal WorthyHound contender; unwell but disciplined; slated to face Neema, bound by Hound ethics to avoid needless harm.
- CainFox contender; leaves to strategize; later observed surveying the crowd with practiced vigilance.
- Ish FortAbbot of Anat-russir; casually inspects the fight platform ropes, opening the Festival for the Foxes.
- Katsan BrundtBear contender; stoic and disciplined, grieving Gaida and angered by Neema’s elevation.
- Havoc Arbell-RanorMonkey contender; stands boldly, confident like a captain at sea.
- Tala TalakaContender advocating reforms; draws energy from the crowd despite low odds of victory.
- RukoTiger contender; self-assured and solitary, radiating certainty of triumph; Gaida’s neighboring absence emphasized.