Chapter 8 Summary

## **Games**

Tau lives for training, and it’s clear to everyone. Hadith practices balance, and Tau both admires and craves that, but continues to dedicate himself to his training—aiming for revenge, but finding enjoyment and absolution in the process as well.

## **Mercy**

Scale Jayyed is having a practice fight with a group of Indlovu. They’re struggling, but are doing everything that they can. Tau runs for an Enervator, and fights two Indlovu to get to her. Tau starts losing against the two, but Oyibo comes to help him. With Oyibo’s help, Tau is able to finish one of the Indlovu. Tau starts to go to help Oyibo, and Oyibo surrenders to the Indlovu, knowing that Tau can finish him in a one-on-one. However, the Indlovu ignores Oyibo’s surrender and crushes Oyibo’s head, murdering him. The Noble grins at Tau after murdering Oyibo, and Tau loses himself in rage. He breaks the Noble’s leg and arm, and bashes his teeth. The Noble tries to surrender to Tau, but Tau keeps beating him.

## **Murderer**

Tau is about to murder the Noble, but Uduak stops him and says that he will not allow Tau to kill the Noble because then Tau will be put to death. Uduak knocks the Noble out, and Tau collapses next to Oyibo’s body, crying. Scale Jayyed wins the skirmish, Oyibo is burned, and an umqondisi from the citadel calls for Tau’s death. Jayyed argues against the citadel umqondisi on Tau’s behalf, so Tau is not executed.

Later, Scale Jayyed goes into the city to drink and mourn Oyibo, and Tau leaves early to meet Zuri. Zuri had heard that an Ihashe recruit had been killed, so she is relieved that Tau is okay. They hug, and three Indlovu catch them. Zuri tries to prevent it, but a fight breaks out between Tau and the Indlovu. Tau starts to overwhelm them, when another Indlovu, Kellan Okar, arrives.

## **Duel**

Tau tries to kill Kellan Okar, but is outmatched. Zuri, after getting Jayyed for help, runs back to the fight and blasts Kellan with enervation. Tau tries to take this chance to kill Kellan, but fails as Kellan comes out of the enervation and blocks his swing.  Jayyed grabs Tau before the fight can resume. The Indlovu call for Tau’s death, but Kellan refuses to press charges. Scale Jayyed, dragging Tau along, flee the city.

## **Jayyed Ayim**

Tau explains that he wants revenge on Kellan Okar for his father’s death, but Jayyed defends Kellan.

He says that Kellan was compelled, under orders to kill Aren, but Kellan tried to spare Aren by only taking his hand and claiming that was enough. Tau is upset and that he still wants to kill Kellan, but understands that he doesn’t currently have the power or skill to do so. Jayyed thinks back to the changes he has seen in Tau, and remarks on how impressed he is with Tau’s growth as a fighter. However, Jayyed admits that he believes it is impossible for Tau to overcome Kellan because Kellan is a noble who also puts in the same amount of work that Tau does to become better. Jayyed says that because Kellan is naturally bigger, stronger, and faster, Tau can never overcome the difference through his hard work.

Jayyed admits that he is half noble, and all the rest of Scale Jayyed (with the exception of Tau) is half noble too. Jayyed says that he wants to train half Noble crosses because they might be able to turn the tide of the war. Tau is surprised to hear that the Omehi are not doing well in the war. He is also surprised that there can be so many cross-caste people, because everyone has been told that cross-caste babies are always still-births. Tau starts to believe that the common people might not be inferior to the Nobles. Jayyed disagrees, and decides that he must show Tau the difference in ability between Noble crosses and commoners. So, they decide to duel.

## **Pyrrhic**

Jayyed and Tau duel. Jayyed tells Tau about his past and the state of the war, and the fight ends in a tie. Tau vows to improve and become the best Omehi fighter.