ToP Chapter 41

Chapter Forty-One: Converted Souls

Meliu and Ivin Choerkin, accompanied by the Ilu-Silvstro Nostrolum, execute a daring escape from the Archer’s Eye at midnight, using Meliu’s Dark to cloak their departure in a rowboat. After parting ways with Nostrolum, who heads south with a heartfelt farewell, Meliu and Ivin navigate the river toward Gomjon, using Light to hide from the Archer’s Eye and other boats. Upon nearing Gomjon, they discover the town sealed due to the Rot, with corpses burning outside, prompting them to detour to the Parapet Straits. Spotting a Silone cog, the Soaring Gull, flying a Hidreng flag, they approach as Hidreng travelers and learn from Kemin Reden, an Emudar sailor, that Hidreng forces seized the ship, imprisoning its captain. Meliu, posing as a merchant’s daughter, bribes the greedy Hidreng captain Mulopo with gems to sail to Inster, securing a cabin and rallying the Silone crew’s loyalty. As they settle in, Meliu spots a fleet of Thonian, Brotna, and other warships heading east, signaling a potential war with the Hidreng or a broader conflict, heightening the stakes of their journey. The chapter weaves stealth, deception, and strategic alliances, highlighting Meliu’s cunning and the looming threat of war.

• ToP Chapter 40 — Dark Currents
• ToP Chapter 42 — Sailing to Stand Still
• Trail of Pyres - Main Chapter Listing