The Poppy War, #2
The Dragon Republic
by R. F. Kuang
Contents
Chapter 29
Overview
Rin admits to Kitay she killed a Hesperian soldier, and they fear the alliance’s collapse. Their discussion leads to suspecting that Vaisra and the Hesperians let the Federation invasion happen to weaken Nikan. Kitay unveils flight wings; Rin masters basic flight and recruits Venka for aerial support before Red Cliffs.
Summary
Rin tells Kitay she killed a Hesperian who was assaulting a refugee and dumped the body in the harbor. They panic over reprisals and the risk of destroying the Republic–Hesperian alliance, but the lack of immediate response suggests they may be unnoticed—for now.
Prompted by southern Warlords’ claims, Kitay and Rin reason that Vaisra and the Hesperians likely anticipated and allowed the Federation invasion to weaken Nikan for the Republic’s rise. This realization leaves them cornered: defecting south means death, staying in Arlong risks Hesperian control, and Red Cliffs looms.
Kitay reveals a leather-and-rod wing apparatus inspired by Ramsa and aerodynamics. Rin tests it at dawn, learns to generate localized heat to lift, experiments with turning and descent, and achieves sustained flight, gaining a surge of confidence and a tactical answer to Feylen’s water dominion.
Recognizing she will be a conspicuous target, Rin seeks “air support.” She gifts Venka a rare silkworm thorn bow and recruits her into the Cike as an aerial cover archer, despite Venka’s injuries. Venka accepts, giving Rin a sharpshooter for the imminent battle.
Who Appears
- RinConfesses killing a Hesperian, questions Vaisra’s motives, tests Kitay’s wings to fly, and recruits Venka for aerial support.
- KitayPanics over the killing, deduces Vaisra–Hesperian complicity, unveils wing apparatus, coaches Rin through flight, plans air support.
- VenkaInjured archer training hard; receives a silkworm thorn bow and joins the Cike to provide Rin air-cover fire.
- VaisraOffstage; suspected of allowing the Federation invasion to weaken Nikan for his Republic.
- FeylenImminent naval threat at Red Cliffs; his water power motivates Rin’s need for flight tactics.