Five Broken Blades

Euyn and the injured Mikail stay in an inn after their ordeal with the samrocs. Over lunch, they discuss the next step in sneaking through the border between Fallow and Yusan; they must traverse a mountain pass known to harbor samroc nests. They plan to stay in the city nearest to the mountain pass to avoid traveling through the mountains at night. Mikail explains that his plan to dethrone Joon involves a girl, and Euyn objects to depending on her, using her gender alone as the basis for his argument. After making a few innuendos and overtures, Euyn resigns himself to doing no more than applying salve to Mikail’s injuries and changing his bandages. Inwardly, he acknowledges that he still loves the man who voted for his exile and betrayed him.

Royo is growing impatient with Aeri, who has not stopped talking since they boarded the boat. When she asks him about “Lora” after hearing him speak the name in his sleep, Royo isolates himself on the balcony. Aeri apologizes, and he confirms that Lora is a friend. Privately, he reflects on the fact that Lora had been his lover even though she was from a wealthy merchant family and he was only a street thug.