EoS Chapter 12

Chapter Twelve: Caution in the Ten Winds

Eliles kneels at the Shrine of Elinwe, contemplating her feral magic—tied to the Vanquished Gods, not Sol’s Fire or Erginle’s Life—amid the gem-laden symbols of the Ten Winds. Jinbin interrupts, teasing about ale and revealing no guard drills occurred, then alerts her to an inquisitor bringing three feral children, “plucked falcons,” to Istinjoln. Haunted by past lessons from Dareun and her lie to Jinbin about a vengeful backstory, she watches from the wall as the inquisitor leads the hooded, bound children—aged six or younger—into the Tower of Sol. Overwhelmed by sorrow and anger at their rumored fate in an oubliette, echoing her nightmares, Eliles leaves with Jinbin’s comforting hand, admitting the limits of her endurance, if not revenge.

• Chapter 11 — Lesser Evils
• Chapter 13 — The Bloody Scholar