Reaper's Gale/Chapter 7

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==Aboard the Tiste Edur Fleet, Near Letheras==
The Atri-Preda Yan Tovis, also known as Twilight, is standing on the deck of a ship approaching Letheras, the seat of the Emperor and the largest and richest city on the continent. She is relieved to finally be back on solid ground after a long and treacherous journey. Hanradi Khalag, Uruth, and Tomad Sengar will have dire news to deliver to the Emperor, but Yan Tovis will not be present at that meeting as she has her own duties to attend to in the north. She has a conversation with Taralack Veed, the current ward of the formidable warrior Icarium. She is worried about what will happen when Icarium is awakened and she expresses her concern about the safety of Letheras and the people in it. Taralack Veed tells her that Icarium is getting excited and that he has come to accept his curse and embrace it. He has no more questions for him and is preparing for battle. Yan Tovis says that she will not be there to witness the battle and she will be making a journey back to Fent Reach by horseback, which will take over a month. Taralack Veed makes no promises about the safety of Yan Tovis but tells her that Icarium will fight. As they approach the city, they can see the imperial quays ahead, and people are gathering along the waterfront.
The delegation begins to disembark from the ship. The Errant, Turudal Brizad, is standing near the quayside and notices that Tomad Sengar, a veteran warrior, is among the delegation, but the Tiste Edur are not present. He then becomes interested in a woman, the Atri-Preda, who leads the Letherii Marines in the fleet, sensing that there is something fated about her. As he observes the disembarking, two foreigners, one with a hood, arrive. The first foreigner causes a disturbance by spitting over the side of the gangway. The second foreigner, who is a Jhag, elicits a strong response from the Errant as he senses that he is a champion and a challenger to the Emperor of a Thousand Deaths. The Jhag's arrival is also marked by a minor earthquake and the sudden movement of thousands of birds in the city. The Errant realizes that the chaos that he is feeling is a result of Icarium's arrival in the heart of his power and fears the consequences. The Errant also notices that Icarium wears a childlike smile, but it is unclear if it is genuine or not. The people nearby quickly dismiss the earthquake, but the Errant knows that there will be casualties.
Taralack Veed and Yan Tovis turn their attention to the current state of the city of Letheras. Taralack mentions that the land in the surrounding areas is unsettled, with the ground shaking often, but this is not the case in Letheras. Yan Tovis informs him that she is not from Letheras and is not familiar with such disturbances. Taralack accuses Yan of being a fool, suggesting that the shaking is caused by the presence of Icarium. Yan dismisses his comment and informs Taralack of the secure residences that have been arranged for him and his champion, and that the timing of the Emperor's challenge will be at his discretion. Yan also mentions that the burial urn for Icarium is already being prepared and that his place in the cemetery will be ready, as every challenger the Emperor has faced is buried there.
Icarium, on the other hand, is feeling confident and seems to be looking forward to the challenge. He speaks of feeling a connection to the ground beneath their feet and that there are truths waiting for him in Letheras. He also mentions that the heart of the city is made of ice and that he will discover the secrets hidden there. When Taralack Veed asks if Icarium will face the Emperor, he says that it is expected of him and he can't refuse them. He also says that his life is awakening anew.
=== In the hold ===
Karsa Orlong kills a rat that was on top of a wooden cage and throws the dead rat aside. Samar Dev complains about Karsa's impatience and tells him to get ready as they are finally drawing in to shore. Karsa dismisses her concerns and tells her that his armor and sword are unbreakable. Samar Dev comments that Karsa will have an audience when he clashes swords with the Edur Emperor. She explains that the spirits shriek because they are not welcome in the city they are approaching and that there are resident gods there. Karsa reveals that he has the ability to gather souls and that he believes spirits are powerful souls. He mentions the candles he lit in Samar Dev's apothecary and says that they were bound into her knife.
== Outside Hivanar Estate ==
Bugg stands thirty paces away from the entrance. He is sweating and struggling to catch his breath, but he is also deep in thought. He reflects on the concept of death and birth, and how they are bound together, even though they seem to be in opposition. He thinks about Icarium, a figure from history who he remembers striding from the sea as a refugee. He recalls that Icarium's father did not await him, as he had gone to the Azath.
As he is lost in thought, a servant from a nearby estate approaches and asks if Bugg is feeling okay. Bugg shakes his head and the servant mentions the recent floods and how they caused damage in the area. He also mentions that Scale House fell down but thankfully it was empty. The servant then shares a joke about a cat being the only fatality in the street and continues on his way. Bugg watches him go and then heads towards the estate's gate.
== Hivanar Estate ==
Bugg waits on the terrace, looking down at a trench that has been excavated into the riverbank. Rautos Hivanar comes to speak with him and delivers a message from Venitt Sathad, who has visited the site of a refurbished inn that Hivanar recently acquired. Sathad came to see the progress of the refurbishment and was struck by a revelation when he saw a mysterious mechanism found inside an outbuilding. He believes it is imperative that Hivanar sees it for himself. Sathad also mentioned a collection of artifacts recovered from the trench.
Hivanar leads Bugg to a workroom where the artifacts are on display. Bugg picks up one of the objects, which is heavy and seamless, but Hivanar's engineers have been unable to determine its purpose or function. Bugg seems to have a vision and starts to talk about an Eres'al who lived near the riverbank, who was the last of his line. The weight of the artifact seems to increase and threatens to drag Bugg to his knees.
Hivanar is surprised and asks Bugg questions about his vision, but Bugg explains that this artifact is identical to a massive object at the inn and the central piece is missing. The framework will be held together by energy and not matter, and it has yet to arrive. Bugg then walks away, leaving Hivanar with a look of mute surprise on his face.
== The Letherii Throne Room ==
The emperor Rhulad is seated on his throne. The Chancellor, Triban Gnol, is speaking with him. Nisall is standing in an alcove and wants to go to Rhulad but Gnol's presence prevents her. Rhulad is frightened and his sword is trembling. The Chancellor is there to convey news from Rhulad's father about Rhulad's brother, Binadas, who was murdered in battle with an unknown enemy. The news is that Binadas was killed by a demon who still haunts the Nascent, the site of the battle. The Chancellor then tells Rhulad that the demon has been brought to the throne room, to challenge Rhulad. The demon is said to have Binadas's soul and the souls of a thousand other victims. The Chancellor believes that Rhulad's god has delivered the demon to Rhulad, so he can avenge Binadas's death. Rhulad is filled with anger and confusion, and accuses Tomad, Binadas's father, of wanting him to die so he can take the throne. He also mentions that Hanradi is going to Hannan Mosag to talk about treason. The Chancellor then mentions a request from Invigilator Karos Invictad, asking Rhulad's will regarding treason among the Lether people.
== Letherii Palace Corridor ==
Bruthen Trana and Tomad Sengar meet in a corridor after Tomad has been denied an audience with the Emperor. Bruthen, who has been appointed to oversee the Letherii security organization known as the Patriotists, introduces himself to Tomad and tells him that he has been trying to reach the Emperor but has been turned away each time by the Chancellor. He believes that the Emperor is not aware of the barriers the Chancellor has raised around him. Bruthen believes that all Tiste Edur are being isolated from their Emperor and that there is a possibility that Rhulad's First Concubine, a Letherii woman, may be the one person who has a hold over him. However, Tomad believes the woman is a spy and an agent for Gnol and tells Bruthen that he is being used. He then pushes Bruthen aside and storms off, telling Bruthen that they will not speak again.
== Letherii Compound ==
Karos Invictad and Tanal Yathvanar are having a conversation in which Tanal informs Karos about their efforts to extend their influence to the Tiste Edur. Tanal reports that the Emperor has had suspicions about the Edur and that the subject was broached in a meeting. Karos sees this as a good opportunity and instructs Tanal to prepare a dossier on the First Concubine to incriminate her and make her disappear. Karos mentions that Tanal may have the First Concubine to himself once they have her confession. He emphasizes the importance of removing any obstacles and making sure that the Emperor only hears what they want him to hear. Karos tells Tanal to work with the Chancellor's agents to invent what they need to incriminate the First Concubine and make it believable. The scene ends with Karos focusing on solving a puzzle box.
Tanal Yathvanar is an accomplice of Karos Invictad, but he deludes himself that he has grown tired of Invictad's cruel ways and plans to save Janath Anar, a woman who has been kept captive and tormented. He loves Janath and wants to escape with her, away from Invictad's reach. Tanal is aware of the horrors that Invictad has committed and knows where the evidence is kept, giving him leverage against Invictad. Tanal unshackles Janath, who has been kept in a torture chamber, and carries her up some stairs to a side passage. He plan to escape and start a new life together with her.
== Beneath Letheras ==
Janath lies captive in a crypt. She wakes up to the sound of footsteps and is aware of the coldness and darkness surrounding her. She tries to move but finds that she is still shackled. The pain in her joints is intense and she feels hunger and exhaustion. She reflects on her situation and realizes that her captor had defeated her both physically and mentally. She had tried to resist with her own madness, but it only made things worse. As she lies there, waiting for death, she dreams of becoming a vengeful ghost, seeking revenge on her captor. However, she realizes that such an act would only make her like him.
Suddenly, a calloused hand touches her brow and she opens her eyes to see an old man with a kind face. He effortlessly parts her chains and lifts her up. She sees a warm, gentle light, and then everything goes dark again.
We see a series of tunnels and chambers beneath the bed of the river that contain the remains of almost 16,000 citizens of Letheras. The discovery was made by Letherii engineers centuries ago, but no records of the discovery exist, and only a chosen few are aware of the tunnels' existence. An Elder God carrying a brutalized and starved woman into one of the side passages of the tunnel system, and the god's thoughts about the situation. The god is filled with recrimination and anger towards himself for not having realized the full extent of the depravity and slaughter conducted by the Patriotists, but he recognizes that unleashing his wrath would lead to greater slaughter, making no distinction between those who deserved death and those who did not. The god's thoughts turn to Karos Invictad, who is soon to discover the curse of power. The god says that Tehol Beddict has decided that Karos must go and almost pities him.
== Tehol's House ==
In the hovel, Tehol Beddict searches for a wooden spoon fragment that he uses to prepare his morning meal. Ublala Pung enters the room and Tehol greets him. Ublala reveals that he has news and tells Tehol that a pureblood Tarthenal has come to the city and is carrying a stone sword. He is here to challenge the Emperor. Ublala also mentions that he has seen the pureblood pick up a guard and throw him away. Tehol is shocked to hear this and questions Ublala on how he knows about pure bloods. Ublala tells him about the Sereghal, the gods he helped to kill, and how they were pure bloods. Tehol is surprised to hear this and Ublala explains that purebloods are a people of legend, long forgotten by the world. Tehol wonders what this champion wants and if it is connected to the recent earthquake that led to the collapse of Scale House.
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