Contents
Chapter 43
Overview
Oanold’s soldiers ambush the party as Evar exits the Mechanism, capturing Arpix, Salamonda, and Neera. Clovis and Evar counterattack; Evar is shot by Lord Algar and dragged to safety by Clovis. Yute, Yolanda, Starval, and Mayland emerge; Starval stabilizes Evar. Mayland reopens the door, releasing an assistant that halts the charging ganar automaton, which ominously singles out Evar.
Summary
Evar exits the Mechanism into chaos: Oanold’s grim soldiers are subduing Yute’s people. He fights through smoke and concussion to reach Livira, seeing Arpix downed and bound. As the troops withdraw with captives, including Arpix, Salamonda, and Neera, Clovis arrives and vows to rescue them and kill the king.
Evar restrains Livira for her safety and joins Clovis in pursuit through the devastated main chamber, where the ganar automaton steadily advances. Tracking the soldiers, Clovis strikes from above, cutting down many, while Evar battles on the ground. When Evar confronts a one‑eyed commander—Lord Algar—he is shot and overpowered for mutilation until Clovis intervenes, killing his assailants and dragging him away.
Clovis chooses Evar’s life over immediate vengeance, hauling him toward the reading room as the automaton backs up to charge. The group helps carry Evar to the Mechanism. Livira tends him; Starval arrives and inserts a tube to drain Evar’s lung, stabilizing him, while Clovis departs again to seek Arpix. Evar presses Starval on siding with Mayland and Jaspeth; Starval argues the library’s burden of memory must be broken.
The ganar begins a full charge, tearing free of the shelf‑towers. Kerrol asks to reenter the Mechanism, but Yolanda indicates the audience is over. Mayland touches the frame and forces the door to open, and a new assistant steps out and proceeds to the corridor.
As the huge ganar fills the passage, the assistant raises a hand and stops it against an invisible barrier. Clovis arrives ahead of it, braced behind the assistant. The ganar recovers and points directly at Evar, leaving the group to confront why the machine wants him.
Who Appears
- EvarExits the Mechanism, fights soldiers, is shot by Lord Algar, stabilized by Starval, targeted by the ganar automaton.
- ClovisVows vengeance, slaughters soldiers from above, saves Evar over pursuing captors, returns to face the automaton.
- LiviraCaptured earlier then freed; tends Evar’s wound, refuses to watch him die, urges him to live.
- Lord AlgarOne‑eyed commander; shoots Evar, orders his maiming, plans to deliver captives to Oanold.
- ArpixEvar’s human friend; knocked out and captured by Oanold’s soldiers, prompting the rescue attempt.
- StarvalDrains Evar’s lung with a tube; argues the library’s memory is a burden justifying destruction.
- MaylandForces the Mechanism to open; his action summons an assistant to confront the ganar.
- Assistant (library automaton)Emerges from the Mechanism and halts the charging ganar with an invisible barrier.
- Ganar automatonSmashes through shelf‑towers toward the reading room, then fixates on Evar.
- YuteEmerges from the Mechanism with Yolanda; offers no vengeance; cannot prolong the audience.
- YolandaReturns from the Mechanism; indicates reentry is closed as the automaton approaches.
- KerrolHolds Livira back at Evar’s request; asks if they can reenter the Mechanism.
- MeelanWarns against pursuing armed soldiers; helps bear Evar toward safety.
- JellaAssists Livira with Evar’s wound care in the reading room.
- King Oanold’s soldiersAmbush and bind Yute’s people; capture Arpix, Salamonda, and Neera; battle Clovis and Evar.
- SalamondaSeized by Oanold’s troops during the ambush; fate unknown.
- NeeraCaptured with the others in the soldiers’ raid.