Contents
Chapter 14
Overview
Celcha pressures Hellet to sever contact with the ghosts, and Hellet dismisses them, creating a fragile calm. Seeking the city, Celcha accompanies Lutna to the palace, where twin princes humiliate Celcha until a functionary warns them off. Shaken but resolute, Celcha heads below to meet Lutna’s ganar caretakers.
Summary
Back in their quarters after recovering a notable book, Celcha challenges Hellet about Yute’s warning not to speak with the ghosts, Maybe and Starve. Though Hellet argues the ghosts rescued them from Myles Carstar and improved their lives, Celcha insists he stop. Hellet agrees and formally dismisses the spirits, who depart without protest.
For weeks, the air remains free of glimmers, and Hellet keeps his word. When Lutna invites Celcha to visit the city on a rest day, Librarian Markeet permits it and assigns the canith guard Jhar to accompany them, partly to ensure Celcha’s return. Lutna chatters through the descent, while townsfolk eye Celcha warily when she walks beside the princess.
Inside the palace, Celcha is overwhelmed by wealth and art as Lutna gives a quick tour. Lutna then asks Celcha to visit H’run and F’nort, ganar who raised her, hoping to show them Celcha’s success and broaden their hopes.
In a corridor, Lutna’s cousins, Princes Acran and Bastan, confront them, treating Celcha as a pet and setting a small dog on her. Celcha submits strategically, swallowing her anger, until a palace functionary intervenes, warning the princes that the head librarian protects library staff. Acran kicks Celcha before leaving, his brother laughing.
Bruised but determined, Celcha chooses to continue, leading the way down a service stair toward the palace’s underlevels to meet Lutna’s ganar caretakers, intent on seeing the reality beneath the court’s opulence.
Who Appears
- CelchaGanar trainee; urges Hellet to dismiss the ghosts; visits the palace with Lutna; endures royal bullying; descends to meet ganar.
- HelletCelcha’s brother; agrees to stop speaking with and listening to the ghosts; studies a black book from the ganar city.
- LutnaPrincess and trainee; invites Celcha to the city; wants to show her ganar caretakers a better future; confronts cousins.
- AcranPrince; bullies Celcha, claiming her as a pet; kicks her before leaving when warned by a functionary.
- BastanPrince; echoes Acran’s cruelty, releases a dog to menace Celcha, laughs at the abuse.
- JharCanith guard assigned to Lutna; escorts the visit and implicitly ensures Celcha’s return.
- Palace functionaryTall, austere official who halts the princes by invoking the head librarian’s protection.
- StarveGhost who once guided Hellet; watches the black book; leaves when dismissed.
- MaybeGhost advising Hellet; source of Celcha’s mistrust; leaves when Hellet sends them away.
- Librarian MarkeetBasks in credit for the recovered book; authorizes Celcha’s city visit with an escort.
- Librarian SternusAccompanies Markeet in seeking praise for the recovered work.
- YuteWarned against speaking to ghosts; his caution spurs Celcha’s demand that Hellet cut contact.