Chapter Twenty-Three

On the veranda, the Foxes idle while contenders recover from the tombs. Tala, bored, considers fetching Ruko, prompting Havoc to recall a servant Ruko once killed for breaking his concentration. Neema studies her iced mint tea, trying to hide frustration at the delay.

Katsan suddenly smashes Neema’s drink and accuses Neema of wearing Gaida’s bloodied colors, demanding her alibi. Neema, shaken and uncertain, cannot defend herself. Ruko arrives, bristling at mention of his stolen dagger, and Abbot Fort calls everyone to hear the results.

After comic fuss over the abbot’s hammock, Fort declares that the Trial’s true measure was how contenders treated one another, not their tomb exploits. He names the placings: Ruko last with no points; Katsan next; Havoc; Neema third with three points; Tala second; and Shal the winner for the Hounds. Protests fade as Fort explains they listened from the card table and saw Shal care for others, and Neema offer help, while Ruko showed no compassion.

When Katsan presses her accusation against Neema, Fort counters by citing Neema’s aid and questioning what Katsan did when she heard screams. Chastened, Katsan lowers her gaze. Neema recognizes the Trial exploited Ruko’s weakness—his indifference—even as Ruko appears not to care.

Ruko then insists on enforcing Festival law over Katsan’s earlier scuffle with Neema. At Fort’s prompt, Neema recites the rule: a minor assault forfeits the aggressor’s most recent points to the injured party. Katsan’s single point transfers to Neema, who rises to four. Katsan accepts the rebuke formally, and Fort ends the Fox Trial amid lingering suspicion toward Neema and hardened rivalries.