- For the army lead by Anasûrimbor Kellhus, see Great Ordeal.
The Great Ordeal is the third novel in the Aspect-Emperor series and the sixth in The Second Apocalypse cycle. Originally, the third book in the Aspect-Emperor series was titled The Unholy Consult, but due to the length of the manuscript the book was split into two volumes—the first being The Great Ordeal and the second The Unholy Consult. The book was published on July 12, 2016 in the US.[1][2]
Publisher’s Summary[]
As Fanim war-drums beat just outside the city, the Empress Anasûrimbor Esmenet searches frantically throughout the palace for her missing son Kelmomas.
Meanwhile and many miles away, Esmenet's husband's Great Ordeal continues its epic march further north. But in light of dwindling supplies, the Aspect-Emperor's decision to allow his men to consume the flesh of fallen Sranc could have consequences even He couldn't have foreseen.
And, deep in Ishuäl, the wizard Achamian grapples with his fear that his unspeakably long journey might be ending in emptiness, no closer to the truth than when he set out.
The Great Ordeal is the new novel in R. Scott Bakker's acclaimed the spect-Emperor series, set in a vivid world of myth, war and sorcery. A series that stands alongside the finest in the genre, for its grand scope, rich detail and thrilling story.
Front matter[]
Dedication[]
To Frank and Ken
Acknowledgements[]
Kellhus I am not.
I’m the kind of guy who would starve for forgetting to eat. I sometimes think I’m only half a person, given the way my projects consume me and my attention. I depend on others to lend me the semblance of being whole, more than most, I think. There’s my wife and my daughter, of course. My agent, Chris Lotts, and my brother, Bryan.
My other conditions of possibility include Mike Hillcoat, Zach Rice, Andy Tressler, and everyone else at the Second Apocalypse forum. Thank you all not simply for believing in the series, but for assuring it walks Conditioned Ground. If these books are remembered, it will be due to you.
I need to thank everyone at Three Pound Brain: though my philosophical writing may seem miles away from my fiction, they are intimately intertwined.
I need to thank Jason Deem for making my vision so brilliantly visible. I also need to thank my beta readers, Todd Springer, Ken Thorpe, Roger Eichorn, Michael Mah, and John Griffiths. The inimitable Mike Hillcoat deserves an encore mention here.
Maps[]
Plot Summary[]
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The following section contains significant plot details about The Great Ordeal |
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Prologue[]
At the sound of the Fanim drums the Shrial Knights and the Imperial Apparati rush to their posts to defend the city. Empress Esmenet is escorted by Inchausti soldiers through the catacombs beneath the Temple of Xothei, and then through the chaotic streets of Momemn. Arriving at the Andiamine Heights, the Empress searches for her son Kelmomas in all the rooms and corridors that connect to the secret passages, finally finding him in the Throne room, curled up and asleep on the Circumfix Throne.
Chapter 1[]
After gathering in Swaranûl the Ordealmen continue their march north of the Neleöst Sea, there, in every imaginable way they begin to ingest Sranc meat. Anasûrimbor Kellhus reveals to the Exalt-Generals Proyas and Saubon, that the God of Gods is not human, and that all humans regardless are condemned. The first vision of the Head on a Pole occurs while Kellhus talked to Proyas.
Chapter 2[]
The Niom (Moënghus II, Serwa and Sorweel) make it through the Demua Mountains, arriving at Injor-Niyas. Soon after, the Niom arrives at Ishterebinth, first encounter with the Emwama slaves of the Ishroi-Niyas. Sorweel understands that the incestuous act he witnessed between Serwa and Moënghus was a ploy to make him hate them. For in his face they saw only love for them, not the hatred that the Niom required. Moënghus wanted to kill Sorweel, as he may have ruined the whole purpose of the Niom. Serwa denies him. After meeting the Nonmen of Ishterebinth the Niom is attacked by the Emwama and reduced.
Chapter 3[]
Esmenet appoints Clia Saxillas as the new Exalt-Captain of the Inchausti. She orders him to remove Issiral (the White-Luck Warrior) from the Temple of Xothei. The voice of Samarmas in Kelmomas' head warns him that although all those who could see the truth of his soul are no longer alive, his father, Kellhus, still remains. The voice calls his father a half-dead man, due to his journey to Hell perhaps he was unable to see the truth of his soul. Fanayal camps in Jarutha countryside around Momemn, the city is surrounded. Esmenet orders Issiral to stay by his side, he replies that he must consult with his god. Kelmomas knows that his mother is watching him more closely, he knows that Maithanet has warned her. Esmenet tortures and murders Naree in the same room where the prostitute betrayed her. The Patridomos Biaxi Sankas is found dead in an auxiliary staircase of the palace, probably the result of an accident. Kelmomas denies to Theliopa having murdered Sankas, his sister tells Kelmomas that she knows everything he did, all his crimes, Maithanet told her. Now she observes him too. Theliopa has not told Esmenet anything. Esmenet and her personal retinue including Theliopa, Vem-Mithriti and her new Exalt-Captain, Clia Saxillas, gather at the Maumurine Gate, awaiting the Fanim retinue and Fanayal ab Kascamandri who seek to parley with the Empress. The Cishaurim Meppa, disguised as Fanayal, attacks the Imperial retinue wielding his Water, slays Vem-Mithriti and wounds Theliopa. Before attacking the Empress the Cishaurim is wounded with arrows and driven away along with the Fanim.
Chapter 4[]
The Aspect-Emperor has a vision again, this time there is a warrior sent by the gods under a tree. The Great Ordeal crosses Illawor. The Ordealmen continues to ingest Sranc. Sibawûl te Nurwul accepts a challenge from Halas Siroyon, as to who could harvest the most Sranc meat. As a result Sibawûl te Nurwul goes too far into the Hording entering the ruins of Wreoleth with his men. The ruins were a Topoi place and by inadvertent action of Vokalati sorcerers who were in the area, Sibawûl te Nurwul and his Cepalorae men were locked in the ruins for two days. After being rescued, the Aspect-Emperor declares that all military action of Sibawûl te Nurwul and his Cepalorae men are free of any chain of command. Soon the Cepalorae raid the Hording harvesting meat and consuming it raw, now they abhor light and do not sleep. Sibawûl te Nurwul and his Cepalorae men become feared throughout the whole Great Ordeal. Kellhus reveals to Proyas that he is a Dûnyain, and everything he has done is a colossal machination product of the Thousandfold Thought. Kellhus was mad since his trial in Caraskand, where he began to hear a voice in his head that even he does not know where it came from. Proyas lost all faith in his Warrior-Prophet and stops believing in salvation, and understands that the only prophet he ever needed in his life was Achamian. Kellhus orders Proyas to undress and has intercourse with him. Later Proyas meets with Saubon who confirms that Kellhus has also told him the same thing, but Kellhus has not slept with him. They both decide it is a test of their faith for a challenge to come, at Golgotterath.
Chapter 5[]
Achamian dreams now as Nau-Cayuti, prisoner now in Golgotterath, Shaeönanra threatens him with unspeakable tortures, seeks to find out the location of the Heron Spear. Achamian and Mimara descend into the ruins of Ishuäl, among the ruins they pass the Unmasking Room and another room where the Dûnyain inseminate women. In this room they discover a survivor, The Boy. The Boy tells them how Ishuäl fell before immense hordes of Sranc and Nonmen sorcerers. Achamian acknowledges that it was the Consult who destroyed Ishuäl. But the Boy tells them that there is another survivor besides him, who soon reveals himself to be Anasûrimbor Koringhus, eldest Dûnyain son of Anasûrimbor Kellhus.
Chapter 6[]
The mortally wounded Cishaurim, Meppa, is healed by a gloating Psatma Nannaferi, who assures the bandit Padirajah that her control over him is total, and her goddess is real. Malowebi decides that Fanayal and his Host is of no use to High Zeüm, whereas the Cishaurim Meppa is. Visiting the witch Psatma Nannaferi, trying to find out how he got involved in the plots of the goddess Yatwer, the witch tells Malowebi that his doom is to die, he is condemned to be a Witness. Kelmomas finds out through an almost inhuman observation that the Narindar, Issiral is a vessel of the God Ajokli, therefore the luck of the assassin was infinite and perfect. Although Kelmomas was not interested in the gods he had made an offering to Ajokli before. One night Kelmomas finds his mother talking to Issiral of a matter he failed to discern, and laments that he is losing the affection of his mother. Kelmomas dreamt that he died.
Chapter 7[]
Serwa and Moënghus are tortured in separate chambers, in total darkness. Serwa sings for Harapior, the torturer of Ishterebinth. After awakening Sorweel is escorted by other Ishroi through the Mansion, presented before Nin’ciljiras, the King of Ishterebinth in Nil’giccas' absence. The Ishroi deliberate and decide that Sorweel has fulfilled the Niom even under the auspices of Mother Yatwer who has anointed him, Ishterebinth embraces Sorweel and assigns him a Siqu, Oinaral Lastborn. Oinaral took Sorweel and set off leading him through and down the Mansion, Sorweel still did not understand how he understood where he was, what was said and what he saw, Oinaral Lastborn reveals to him that he has the Amiolas on his head. Sorweel desperately tries to remove the Cauldron. Serwa tortures Harapior with his songs of ancient ballads, sowing his Portion and that of his Father throughout Ishterebinth.
Chapter 8[]
Achamian dreams again, this time it is Anasûrimbor Celmomas II, this at the moment of his death, the moment of the prophecy, Celmomas sees the god Gilgaöl with Four Horns approaching and showing him between his hands an Anasûrimbor with two decapitated heads hanging from his girdle. The Survivor and the Boy decide to leave Ishuäl, the Absolute can no longer be reached there, both decide that they will accompany the Elder and the woman in search of their Father, Anasûrimbor Kellhus. The Survivor recalls how before the arrival of the old man and the woman, he gathered a hundred stones and killed 99 birds and kept only the hundredth stone. Mimara manages to convince Achamian that he must kill the Dûnyains because they are evil, despite his initial reluctance Achamian gives in but at the last moment he is interrupted by Mimara, by the compassion of the woman. Just as the Dûnyains expected it to happen.
Chapter 9[]
Nin’ciljiras had ordered Oinaral to execute Sorweel, Oinaral interrupts his execution of Sorweel as they both see a stork flying over the roof shaft of a chamber. Oinaral decides to gamble his fate with Sorweel. Oinaral reveals to Sorweel that Nil’giccas left when Oinaral renounced to be his Elju, as he could not bear the atrocities committed by Nil’giccas afflicted by the Dolour. Serwa continued to hallucinate in the dark, she saw his Father, she feared that the Consult had taken Ishterebinth but his Father only suggested that she show them his Portion. Sorweel descends with Oinaral to the Ilculcû Rift, there Oinaral tells him that his sluck as the chosen of the Goddess would help him survive his task. For Oinaral did not expect to get out of there alive. The torturer Harapior visits Serwa again, tells her that her song has shaken all of Ishterebinth, but Harapior does not relent. Descending further into the bowels of the mountain Oinaral reveals to Sorweel that they are looking for his father, the hero of the First Watch, Oirûnas. As they descend to the level where they would find the Boatman Oinaral and Sorweel are attacked by a mob of Nonmen driven mad by the Dolour.
Chapter 10[]
The Great Ordeal crosses the swamps of Illawor, in the wake of the Hording. Many Thanes became overconfident when they saw the Hording fleeing before them, and made suicidal rushes, many Thanes were sentenced to whippings. Anasûrimbor Kellhus takes the Believer-Kings and other important figures above the Neleöst Sea, where he explains to them the plan they must follow to seize the Urokkas but more importantly Dagliash. Anasûrimbor Kellhus declares before the Believer-Kings that it will be in Dagliash where the Consult will finally strike, Kellhus denies Proyas the possibility of leading the assault against Dagliash.
Chapter 11[]
Through his surveillance of the Narindar, Issiral, Kelmomas discovers that the assassin is in tune with both the past and the future. Knew what would happen as what had happened. Momemn hails Empress Esmenet, they call her "Esmenet’arumot" (Esmenet-unbroken), her position is consolidated. More reinforcements arrive constantly to Momemn by sea, while in the provinces adjacent to Momemn Zaudunyani phanatics revolt against Fanayal. The Three Seas are also doing their part against Fanayal.
Chapter 12[]
Oinaral and Sorweel survive the assault of the Erratic Nonmen, reach the Great Entresol, there they board a Haul guarded and piloted by a Nonmen as old as time, Morimhira. Serwa continued to see hallucinations of his Father, who told him that if she failed in Ishterebinth, she would only have to pray… The Haul of Oinaral and Sorweel crosses the Mine of Ishoriöl, approaching the Mere. Serwa is taken out of her cell with an Agonic collar around her neck, in the distance she hears Moënghus crying, she knows that her half-brother has not been bent. The Haul arrives at the Mere, Oinaral and Sorweel descend from the Haul and advance along the beach full of detritus and gigantic bones. Serwa is tied by the mouth by Harapior who tells her that he will take her to King Nin’ciljiras. After advancing across the beach, Oinaral and Sorweel arrive at a sort of ruined pier, on the foundation of which was a giant figure reclining on the rock, it was Oirûnas. Oinaral tried to talk to the figure, Oirûnas stood up recognizing his son, approached Oinaral and with a swift and accurate blow threw him against the rocks, killing him. Sorweel thought of fleeing but he was lost, the giant Oirûnas found him easily, he lamented for having killed his son. Taking courage Sorweel told Oirûnas that the Viles now ruled in Ishterebinth. Oirûnas in response violently separates the Amiolas from Sorweel. Serwa is chained by the head in front of the Exalted Bark, a way of kneeling before the Throne. Beside her they also chain a visibly tortured Moënghus, Nin’ciljiras, the Torturer Harapior and a little over a hundred other Ishroi are gathered there. The assembly is interrupted by the arrival of the monstrous figure of Oirûnas. Nin’ciljiras is knocked off his throne with the stamping of the Hero. Nin’ciljiras quick notice that Oirûnas was no longer afflicted by the Dolour. Oirûnas was decked out in full armor with Chorae embedded in it, the hero rebuked the Ishroi gathered there as to how such a treachery had gripped Ishterebinth. The Viles ruled through Nin’ciljiras. Oirûnas then deposited between Serwa and Moënghus a battered Sorweel and shouting again the Betrayal, Oirûnas drew and attacked the rock reliefs of the wall above Nin’ciljiras causing sparks to set fire to the King of Ishterebinth. Harapior is cleaved by Oirûnas' sword and chaos then breaks out in the Mansion. Sorweel frees Serwa from the Agonic collar and allows her to Sing. Serwa finally shows the Portion of his Father to Ishterebinth.
Chapter 13[]
The Sranc are cornered and separated on the north and south sides of the Urokkas, the Scharlet Spires take Yawreg, the Myunsai take Mantigol, the Imperial Saik take Oloreg and the Mandate take Ingol. The Schoolmen defend the peaks until dawn. At dawn Proyas and Kayûtas begin the march with the main column of the Great Ordeal through the south of the Urokkas. Anasûrimbor Kellhus transports the raft with a company of men under the command of Saubon, as well as a contingent of Swayali witches. Arriving at Dagliash the Swayali set to work clearing the fortress of enemies. After clearing the fortress Kellhus landed the raft in the Dagliash stronghold called Ciworal. The work of Saubon and his Company was to take care of Kellhus, Gwanwë in charge of the Swayali contingent descended and communicated to Kellhus that they did not find any Chorae in the whole fortress. Anasurimbor Kellhus reveals to them that there are Chorae under them, in the labyrinths of Viri. A legion of Bahsrag and Sranc was hiding inside Viri, under Dagliash. A trap of the Consult. Despite initial misgivings Kellhus ordered them not to fear, for they had only to prevent the Inhumans from coming out. Sibawûl Vaka and his Cepalorae horsemen overtook the Great Ordeal and struck terror into the Sranc cornered south of the Urokkas. Soon the frontal bulk of the Great Ordeal broke ranks in complete disarray, filled with a savage fury the Ordealmen abandoned all discipline and set upon their enemy, devouring them raw. Kellhus begins to dismantle Ciworal block by block of rock, under the redoubt is the entrance to Viri, he plans to free the beasts of the Consulte. The Ordealmen cornered the Sranc between the shores of the Neleöst and Antareg, so the Sranc turned on the men and both sides killed each other with furies of their own. The Schoolmen continued to punish severely the northern Urokkas, piled up corpses rivaling in height with the Urokkas. Schoolmen of the Mandate in Ingol sighted an Inchoroi flying through the sky above the Hording. Proyas and Kayûtas try to impose order on the rampaging Ordealmen who are preying on Sranc blood, both are prevented from any attempt to stop the advance. Both manage to catch a glimpse of Kellhus' sorcery in Dagliash in the distance. Kellhus dismantles Ciworal and discovers the Well of Viri which is full of debris, at the bottom of the labyrinths and wells of Viri the Inhumans revolt dismayed by the absence of the Old Fathers. Saccarees abandoned his post of vigil over Mantigol because he had sighted the Inchoroi that he recognized as Aurang flying over the Erengaw Plains, Saccarees decided not to inform Kellhus and marched through the Hording towards the Inchoroi. While extracting debris from the well some Bahsrags came out of the well and attacked the group, Gwanwë was killed by a Chorae and Saubon himself were saved by the Holca Bogyar, the group managed to defeat the Bahsrags, Ûster Scraul is crushed to death by a Bahsrag. Saubon saw a golden chest ascending next to the debris of the Well. Arriving as close as he could to Aurang, Saccarees challenged the Inchoroi to a sorcerous duel but the Inchoroi refused. Saccarees stood there among the Hording. Anasûrimbor Kellhus stopped mining debris to investigate the chest, climbing down from the air studied the chest next to Saubon, he identified it as an artifact of the Tekne, Kellhus rose back into the air and with great power shouted above all audible that they must escape from Dagliash. Kelhus vanished soon after, abandoning Saubon and his company. Proyas was still trying to gather and consolidate the mess of the Great ordeal, Kayûtas helping him not to perish crushed beneath the indifferent boots of his own men. They both saw Kellhus rise above Dagliash and shout for them to flee. The Schoolmen were the first to abandon their posts in the mountains at the order to flee, followed by soldiers who were not in the rearguard. It was therefore a general flight. Sibawûl Vaka and his Cepalorae were so deep in the Hording that any attempt to return was futile. The Sranc seeing the retreat rushed upon the humans in fury. Saubon did not give up hope that Anasûrimbor Kellhus would return for him, even as the Hording retook Dagliash and cornered the Company of Saubon in another redoubt called Kurwachal. The surrounded company perished before the enemy, among them Holca Bogyar, Mepiro and Saubon himself. The Tekne artifact detonates, Scald in Dagliash, Antareg is blown up completely.
Chapter 14[]
Achamian, Mimara, The Boy and The Survivor set out on their journey through the heights of the Demua, heading north. During the journey, undergoing the Judgments of Mimara with the Judging Eye the Survivor came to the conclusion that he was broken and insane, due to the madness he went through in Ishuäl. The Survivor gives the Boy his hundredth stone and subsequently runs to an escape in the mountain and throws himself into the void. Recovering from their shock at the accident, the trio continues on their way until they reach the Demua border in Kûniüri, there through an Achamian sorcerer lens they witness the Scald in Dagliash in the distance.
Chapter 15[]
Recovering from the obliterations of the destruction of Dagliash, Proyas asks his entourage if they seen Kellhus, no one knows. Kellhus then appears before Proyas and takes him away teleporting him. Kellhus informs Proyas that he must leave the Ordeal, leaving Proyas in charge and entrusting him to deliver the Ordeal to Golgotterath. He must abandon all the sick for the Scald, and lead the starving Ordealmen with an iron fist. Kellhus leaves. A massive sanatorium is created south of the Urokkas where the sick are left and the rest of the Ordealmen cross Oloreg to the north of the Urokkas, abandoning the diseased. Hoga Hogrim is the self-proclaimed leader of the Sick Host, called the Scalded. Acid rain falls on Dagliash and surroundings, Sibawûl Vaka and the rest of the Scalded march through the Sursa stepping on corpses. Seeking to reach Golgotterath.
Chapter 16[]
General Isakul arrives at Momemn with a large contingent from Galeoth. Kelmomas manages to find out in a conversation with Theliopa that his brother Inrilatas molested her. Kelmomas sights Issiral through the passages in the palace in the old room of Samarmas, shortly after Theliopa enters. The earth trembles and Theliopa is crushed to death by the debris. Issiral only declares himself a witness of her death and leaves. Kelmomas rejoices at Theliopas' death and through the rubble cries out for his Mother. Malowebi is invited to the pavilion of the Padirajah, there in the company of Nannaferi, Fanayal requested Malowebi to send ships from Zeüm. Malowebi could not promise him any such thing. The earth shook throwing everyone in the pavilion to the ground, Nannaferi thanked Yatwer and told Malowebi again that his destiny was to be a witness. Outside the Pavilion total chaos, the Fanimry soon learned that the walls of Momemn had fallen, Fanayal called his men to arms. Esmenet also suffered along with his retinue the tremor, she subsequently orders her retinue to go to their posts as the Fanim will soon overwhelm Momemn. Esmenet also runs to the palace in search of her sons. Back in the pavilion Fnayal argues with Nannaferi about the authorship of the tremor, whether it was the Solitary God or Yatwer. Malowebi only observes them. The discussions are interrupted by a sorcerer attack on the pavilion, Malowebi manages to protect himself but Fanayal and Nannaferi are thrown to the ground by the typhoon that detaches the pavilion from the ground. Nannaferi, finally standing up, kicks Fanayal mocking him, Malowebi manages to see the attacker, Anasûrimbor Kellhus. Descending from the air, Kellhus approaches Fanayal, throws Nannaferi to the ground and lifts the Padirajah from the ground, holding him by the neck they exchange words that Malowebi fails to hear and drops Fanayal, dead. Kellhus then turned to Nannaferi and told her that his Goddess could not save her, Nannaferi replied that the White-Luck would have killed him before nightfall. Kellhus held Nannaferi and teleported her to the skies just above the protective ward of Malowebi, Nannaferi dies when she crashes on top of the sorcerous dome. Esmenet weeps beside the body of Theliopa, inspecting the surroundings of the room she manages to see reflected in a silver mirror the malicious face of Kelmomas. She finally discovers the truth of the soul of her son. Kelmomas flees. Malowebi tried to declare to the Aspect-Emperor his intentions, but Kellhus mocked him by telling him that Zeüm had broken the treaty they signed. A sorcerous blow interrupted the Aspect-Emperor, Malowebi knew it was Meppa. Meppa confronted Kellhus but it became clear that he was no match for the Metagnosis. Kellhus himself mocked by teleporting into the sorcerous dome of malowebi where he struck the Zeümi emissary. The dome gives way on Malowebi but the Aspect-Emperor is no longer there. The passages of the Andiamine Heights have been exposed by the tremor, Kelmomas flees through the palace in sight of all. Knowing that all the game with his brothers and his mother had come to an end, he found Issiral in his gait and decided to follow him. The corpse of Ngarau is carried by slaves through the palace. Kellhus counterattacks Meppa and manages to knock him out of the skies visibly damaged. The Fanim flee when they learn of the presence of Meppa, Anasûrimbor Kellhus and the death of Fanayal. After defeating Meppa Kellhus beheads Malowebi. Kelmomas continued to follow Issiral until seeing his following briefly interrupted by his Mother Esmenet who also decides to follow the Narindar. Kelmomas follows them both into the darkness. Esmenet follows the Narindar to the Circumfix Throne room, she loses track of the Narindar inside the room, a wall has fallen behind the throne and there in the light outside she sees Kellhus waiting for her. Issiral sees himself accomplishing his task, killing the Aspect-Emperor, nothing interrupts what had already happened. Kelmomas managed to lead his Mother to the Throne Room, from a vantage point he sees Issiral in a place impossible to see from where Esmenet and Kellhus are kneeling. Kelmomas understands that the Narindar is going to kill Kellhus and decides to help him, when Kellhus stands up asking Esmenet what she had done, Kelmomas sees the Narindar leave his position and prepare to throw his sword, Kelmomas decides to distract Kellhus by shouting a scream to his Mother. Kellhus steps forward and the Narindar misses. The floor erupts again in terrifying movements, another tremor. The vault of the Throne Room gives way and Kelmomas sees Issiral kneeling, with confused and ignorant expressions. The debris crushes the Narindar.
Malowebi somehow trapped inside his own severed head, watches as Kellhus detaches a Decapitant from his girdle and places it over the headless body of Malowebi. With sorcerous words of the Daimos Kellhus thus created a false Malowebi. Kellhus orders this false Malowebi to return to Zeüm and wipe out the entire line of Nganka’kull ut Imbaroon.
Malowebi observes everything from his head on the ground.
Chapter 17[]
Achamian, Mimara and the Boy flee from Sranc, they reach a ravine and take refuge in the undergrowth at the bottom, from there Achamian manages to identify the Sranc as Excursi leading Scylvendi riders. A Scylvendi rider studies their hiding place and then rides off, Achamian suspects he managed to see them as the rider was one of the Few. At nightfall the trio abandons their hiding place in the undergrowth and continues their desperate trek, Mimara denies ingesting more Qirri to quicken their pace. The trio rests in a forest clearing. Mimara is awakened by the scolding of Achamian towards the Boy playing with a Chorae and Chipmunk. Suddenly the two, alerted by the body language of the Boy, they hear harsh voices in the surrounding night. The Scylvendi find them, they have Chorae with them. The same rider from before tells them that the King-of-Tribes wants to see them. The three are led to a huge ravine, the camp of the Scylvendi Host, up a promontory to a campfire they are introduced to a group of nine seated warriors. Among them Maurax, the supposed King-of-Tribes. Achamian and Mimara are interrogated by Maurax who manages to elicit from them the reason for their journey, the search for Ishuäl. The interrogation is interrupted by another Scylvendi among the nine, the true singing voice of the Scylvendi, Achamian immediately recognizes him as Cnaiür urs Skiötha. Cnauir tells Achamian that their fortuitous meeting could only answer to someone, Anasûrimbor Kellhus and the debts they had to collect from him. Mimara observes the King-of-Tribes with the Judging Eye, she sees a damnation as great as no other, perceives him as a priciple from hell who even already possessed horns. Achamian finds out that Cnauir is trying to outwit the Consult, so as to accomplish his task of murdering Kellhus. He mocks the intention of the Scylvendi because murdering Kellhus would only accomplish the goal of the Consult. Cnauir strikes Achamian mocking his attempts to convince him, approaches Mimara and recognizes the resemblance he bears to Esmenet, but it is the Boy who captures his attention by recognizing the imprint of a Dûnyain. After parleying with Maurax, now revealed with the face of Serwë as an Skin-Spy, Cnauir leaves for his yaksh. The trio in the company of the Skin-Spy follow soon after. Reunited again in front of the fire and Cnaiur, Achamian attempts to provoke the Scylvendi but also to win him over, something which Mimara interrupts by telling the barbarian that she can see the facts of his Damnation with the Judging Eye and tells him that they plan to use the same to finally see the truth in Kellhus' soul. Such revelations do not faze the King-of-Tribes. Cnauir asks both of them what they saw in Ishuäl, Achamian attempts to answer with lies before being interrupted by threats from Cnaiur against Mimara. Achamian then answers that in Ishuäl they only found ruins. The Boy knowing that maybe Mimara and Achamian can escape but not him, a relative of Kellhus, decides to escape, the Skin-Spy jumps out and follows him out of the tent. He flees through the Scylvendi Host camp knowing that only the fake woman was capable of catching him. Cnaiur does not interfere despite the pleas of the woman to call the Skin-Spy back. Instead he let them go because he realized that his loyalty to the Skin-Spy needed to be checked, due to his ignorance of the fall of Ishuäl. The Boy ran through the woods outwitting all the Scylvendi, but the Skin-Spy was following him closely, the child finally realized that what he felt since the fall of Ishuäl was not fear but fury. He heads towards the ravines with the hundredth stone in his hand. The Skin-Spy returns to the camp at dawn visibly hurt, tells the King-of-Tribes that the Boy threw a stone and knocked him off the ravines. Cnaiur distrusts the Skin-Spy and skins him. Achamian and Mimara flee from the Host through the forest, they are swarming with Qirri. They both agree that they should not go back for the Boy, he is Dûnyain and will be perfectly safe without them. And during their discussion Mimara reveals to the Wizard that she did not provoke the suicide of the Survivor, but invited him to jump to meet something Absolute. They both resume their journey afterwards.
Achamian dreams again, this time of the final destination of Nau-Cayûti in Golgotterath, past the Golden Room and the Inverse Fire his fate like that of many unfortunates who preceded him was a black sarcophagus.
Mimara awakens the Wizard and comforts him, Achamian is more and more certain that the Second Apocalypse is looming over the world.
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Here ends the section of Spoilers |
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Point of View Characters[]
- Anasûrimbor Kellhus
- Anasûrimbor Kelmomas
- Anasûrimbor Koringhus
- Anasûrimbor Serwa
- Drusas Achamian
- Esmenet
- Mimara
- Nersei Proyas
- Varalt Sorweel
- Coithus Saubon
- Apperens Saccarees
Cover gallery[]
