Contents
Chapter 43
Overview
Teg is taken by Muzzafar to a fortified "bank" where an ancient Honored Matre reveals their philosophy of ruling the masses through controlled ignorance and the threat of withdrawing pleasure-power. She plans to have a younger Honored Matre mark Teg. Recognizing his accelerating abilities, Teg quietly prepares a lethal escape.
Summary
Field Marshal Muzzafar delivers Teg to a fortified estate disguised as a bank, its hedged approach and hidden scanlyzers signaling heavy defenses. Donning his Bashar uniform, Teg enters a monitored conference room, recognizing a place where immense, covert power is traded.
An ancient Honored Matre arrives, demanding obedience and framing herself as a banker of power over people. She warns Teg to fear her eyes turning fully orange, and outlines their doctrine: keep the masses—the "muck"—narrowly focused on survival, filter knowledge, and teach that new knowledge is dangerous.
Muzzafar returns transformed—flushed, trembling with gratitude—after receiving a "deposit," demonstrating the Honored Matres’ pleasure-based control. She offers Teg the stark choice of death or obedience and indicates a younger Honored Matre will soon "mark" him.
Assessing her deadly training and the room’s surveillance, Teg suppresses reaction. His doubled vision and burgeoning speed intensify; he gauges that he could slaughter his captors and many more. Seeing necessity and sensing the Tyrant’s larger design, Teg chooses to have them bring the marker to him—reducing future targets—and identifies the scanlyzer control room as his first strike in a planned escape.
Who Appears
- Miles TegBashar captured on Ysai; assesses a fortified bank, resists coercion, senses accelerating speed, and plots a lethal, strategic escape.
- Honored Matre (ancient banker)Powerful, elderly leader who reveals doctrine of control, demonstrates influence over Muzzafar, and orders a younger to mark Teg.
- Field Marshal MuzzafarDelivers Teg to the Honored Matre; returns altered and grateful after a ‘deposit,’ exemplifying Honored Matre control.