Midnight Tides/Chapter 14

Epigraph

Where is the darkness In the days gone past When the sun bathed everything In godling light And we were burnished bright In our youthful ascendancy Delighted shrieks and Distant laughter Carried on the gilden stream Of days that did not pause For night with every shadow Burned through By immortal fire Where then is the darkness Arrived at sun's death Arrived creeping and low To growl revelations Of the torrid descent That drags us down Onto this moment Immortal Fire Fisher kel Tath

Letheras, Azath Tower

Bugg encounters a D'ivers called The Pack,  a group of fearsome monsters living within a temple of Fulcra. They escape from the Barrow, so Bugg goes off to check the Azath Tower. He speaks with Kettle about the barrow, and then speaks about the women buried there. She promises her things and together they speak about the women. Bugg warns Kettle and leaves.

Letheras, Old Palace

Brys Beddict is awakened and brought to the King's council--Lether is going to war. They speak of the strength of the military, and pre-emptive attacks. Brys worries about Hull, and thinks he needs to warn Tehol.

Letheras, restaurant

Rucket of the Rat Catchers' Guild speaks with Bugg over dinner. Gerun Eberict has been killing thousands of people this year. Bugg is confused by this, and is driven off by Rucket's advances.

Letheras, Shand's office

Tehol speaks with Shand, Rissarh, and Hejun first about the economy and then of their scheme. Tehol will wait to crash the economy because is intrigued about what is going to happen with the war. He thinks they should focus on evacuating tribal refugees. He leaves and is confronted by Shurq Elalle. They speak briefly about various things. Shurq, Ublala Pung, Harlest Eberict want to become pirates.

Letheras, Azath Tower

In the Azath, Kettle's protector speaks with her and of the Forkrul Assail. The elder races goal was an absolute balance. He battled them along with his draconic kin. He says Kettle has the soul of a Forkrul Assail in her, and that she was mortal once. He thinks she was meant to kill him but they both believe she may be able to follow him despite this. Kettle remembers the past, with the Nameless Ones and the Eres'al. The child has two souls within her.

Letheras, Tehol's residence

Bugg is speaking with Tehol about Gerun Eberict when Brys arrives. After discussion over his safety, Tehol agrees to allow one bodyguard to shield him against assassination.