Chapter 21

Rin wakes on a riverbank near Boyang with Qara, Chaghan, and later Kitay, injured and freezing after the fleet’s destruction by Feylen. Nearby, terrified Hesperian missionaries—including Augus—refuse help. As Rin argues about returning to the Republic, Chaghan accuses her of slavish obedience and Altan’s death, provoking a fight that Kitay breaks up.

Hooded riders on massive horses surround them and subdue the Hesperians with arrows. A mental command halts resistance; Chaghan communicates via mind-speech and persuades the riders’ leader, Bekter, not to kill them. Bekter—scarred and hostile—binds them and demands Feylen’s whereabouts, revealing himself as a “watcher” of shamans and Chaghan and Qara’s cousin.

The Sorqan Sira arrives with more riders. She denounces Chaghan’s failures and announces the end of the Cike—Kalagan’s “experiment” to give the Nikara access to gods. When Rin defies her authority, the Sorqan Sira forces a vision: years earlier, the Trifecta confronted Ketreyid leaders. In the clash, Jiang, consumed by the Gate, brutally killed Tseveri, the Sorqan Sira’s daughter, while Daji attacked and Riga blessed the slaughter.

Reeling, Rin recognizes that Jiang’s amnesia likely hid his crimes. The Sorqan Sira moves to execute them, but Rin bargains, arguing they share an enemy in Daji. Skeptical, the Sorqan Sira probes Rin’s mind, sees the growing Seal and Daji’s presence within it, and concludes that Daji fears Rin.

This revelation shifts her decision: instead of killing Rin, the Sorqan Sira spares her, declaring they will “fix” Rin—while affirming the Cike is finished and asserting Ketreyid control over shamanic power.