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

Bugg, known by some local thugs as the "Waiting Man," is summoned to investigate a terrifying creature that has killed several people and is hiding in an ancient, abandoned temple of Fulcra. Bugg learns the thugs have been skulking around the temple because they were hiding from Kettle, who seems to have them spooked. He enters the temple and encounters a D'ivers called The Pack, a group of reptilian-eyed monsters. He warns the creature to stay inside, and that his world doesn't exist anymore. Once outside, Bugg tells the thugs that no one will help them, and they should leave the area.

The Pack told Bugg they had escaped from the barrow at the Azath Tower, so he goes off to check. He thinks about his questionable business dealings, and his financial status is rising rapidly in the Merchant Tolls.

At the Azath Tower, Kettle informs him that a creature has gone missing from a barrow, but Bugg reassures her that the situation is now under control. She also mentions that Brys Beddict has given her swords for her mysterious "protector", who is still stuck in his barrow. Bugg realizes that this man is being held back by a woman, who is physically restraining him by his ankles. She is volatile in her sleep but kind to Kettle when awake, and she promises her things. Meanwhile, "the five" have killed nearly everyone else in the grounds and are threatening to harm Kettle when they escape. It is also revealed that Kettle is slowly regaining her heartbeat and other physical sensations.

Bugg warns Kettle to call for help before the five get out and leaves.

Letheras, Old Palace

Brys Beddict

Brys Beddict is awakened and brought called to the king's council, a military strategy meeting with King Ezgara Diskanar, First Concubine Nisall, Preda Unnutal Hebaz, and Ceda Kuru Qan. Lether is going to war against the Tiste Edur. They speak of the strength of the Letherii military and pre-emptive attacks. They talk about the Fort Shake, and there's also news that Shadow wraiths are heading toward the Edur. The Ceda advises that they must strike the Edur villages. They learn that Queen Janall and Prince Quillas have already set off. Brys learns of Hull's betrayal and worries about him, and thinks he needs to warn Tehol.

Letheras, restaurant

Bugg

Bugg has a secret meeting over dinner with Rucket of the Rat Catchers' Guild, who expected to meet Tehol instead. Rucket tells him the undead little girl's killings have slowed down and mentions that Gerun Eberict is estimated to have killed 2,000 to 3,000 people this year. Bugg is confused by this, and is driven off by Rucket's advances. During the conversation, it’s revealed that Rucket eats cats and that Bugg is celibate. Bugg leaves with some of her wine and cooks eel soup.

Letheras, Shand's office

Tehol Beddict

Tehol finds the three half-blood women, Shand, Rissarh, and Hejun, upset over Ublala Pung's departure. They first talk about the economy and then of their scheme. Tehol will wait to crash the economy because he is intrigued about what is going to happen with the war. The women are unhappy with his plan, and he thinks they should focus on evacuating tribal refugees, and send them to his islands.

He leaves and is confronted by Shurq Elalle, who is bored and eager to take on a new task. She jumps at the chance to rob the Tolls Repository, intending to investigate the royal family's debts and take inventory of the Royal Vault. Shurq has also recently acquired a ship, and together with Ublala and Harlest Eberict, plans to become a pirate.

Letheras, Azath Tower

Kettle

In the Azath, Kettle's protector takes her to an inverted world, where a pyramid leads down into a pit. He speaks with her about the Forkrul Assail. The elder race's goal was an absolute balance. He shares some of their disturbing philosophies, such as "freedom through eternal imprisonment", "peace through destruction", and "adjudication obviates the need for justice".

He battled them along with his draconic kin, and has killed many Forkrul Assail in the past. He says Kettle has the soul of a Forkrul Assail in her, and that she was mortal once. Though they were difficult to kill, the protector is unsure whether the Forkrul Assail soul inside Kettle will awaken. He thinks she was meant to kill him, but they both believe she may be able to follow him despite this.

When Kettle's protector mentions his draconic kin, we can link him to Silchas Ruin, the Tiste Andii that was betrayed by the Tiste Edur Scabandari Bloodeye in the Prologue. Silchas's swords were broken, and Scanbandari imprisoned him in an Azath Tower for eternity because he was too strong to be killed.

Kettle recalls a vison of her past shown to her by the Tower, when she was much taller and wore a hood to hide her unusual appearance as she and five Nerek witches observed her other body, a child's corpse, being carried away by her family. She and the five Nerek witches had spent weeks in preparation waiting for the Azath to select someone. The witches called her the Nameless One and told her she was a true child of Eres, whose blood of kin was the true answer to the Seventh Closure. The protector notes that the child has two souls within her. And given that the Eres'al can walk through time, he speculates that Kettle's father could belong to any point in time, and might not even been born at the time they speak.

Letheras, Tehol's residence

Tehol Beddict

The eel soup Bugg prepares turns out to be made from the sole of a sandal. Tehol is speaking with Bugg about Gerun Eberict when Brys arrives. After discussion over his safety, Tehol agrees to allow one bodyguard to shield him against assassination. Brys agrees to drink the soup.