Chapter 15

Guided by Lutna, Celcha descends into the palace’s lowest level to meet the ganar who serve the servants. Lutna reunites with her former carers, F’nort and H’run, while Celcha observes, wary of the history behind such “care.” When conversation turns to the city gas room, the elders casually reveal access through a green back door.

Outside the palace, Lutna overrules canith guard Jhar and leads Celcha across the city to the fortified gas works. At the rear green door, a black-furred ganar hesitates, but Lutna presses; Celcha is admitted and follows the ganar, Redmak, into the lamp-free interiors where gas forbids open flame.

Inside, Celcha is exhilarated by the air as Redmak guides her through chambers of cylinders, valves, and dials. In a lower hall, among many ganar workers, Redmak presents Celcha to H’seen, who oversees operations. The workers time a cylinder change, revealing a city dependent on limited subterranean reserves.

H’seen explains that the gas—methalayne—seeps from ancient buried cities. Humans and canith avoid it, but ganar thrive because methalayne permeates their home world’s air. This makes the gas house a haven where ganar largely self-govern. The contrast to typical servitude reframes Celcha’s understanding of power and need.

Recognizing how deprivation has shaped her and her people, Celcha breathes deeply, unwilling to leave the place that finally makes her feel whole. When asked her purpose, she admits Hellet sent her and declares he wants to change the world—signaling her commitment to bring this revelation into Hellet’s emerging plans.