Chapter 10

Ofelia Dandolo departs the devastated Dandolo galleon onto a smaller caravel, shaken by the unprecedented sinking of a merchant house warship. She wrestles with Gregor’s threat and her conviction that she once saved him, weighing sacrifice against his accusation as the caravel speeds toward Tevanne.

Behind them, the galleon collapses into the sea. Crasedes Magnus—Ofelia’s long-whispering "Prophet"—appears on the prow, revealing he maintained the ship briefly before letting it go. His presence turns Ofelia’s unease into reverence as she confronts his power now embodied and active.

Crasedes apologizes for the chaos of his return and confirms that Sancia and Gregor survived, noting Sancia’s resourcefulness and hinting the construct is already changing her. He acknowledges Ofelia’s pain over Gregor and reiterates his promise to return her son, framing necessary monstrosity as the price of remaking the world.

Approaching Tevanne, they ignore the campos’ splendor and fixate on the ruined black dome of the Mountain of the Candianos. Ofelia admits resources focused on his restoration, not securing the site. Crasedes accepts this and declares ownership will not be a problem—where tools are lacking, he will improvise—signaling imminent, forceful action to seize the Mountain.