Summary

In the Interlude, in the first person point of view, Hoa pleads with his enemy for a truce. The enemy answers with rage.

Chapter 19 returns to the second person point of view. Two days after Alabaster’s death Castrima-over is occupied by Rennanis. The main tunnel into Castrima-under has been blocked by the Strongbacks. Essun is chosen by Ykka to go topside and try to talk to the Rennanis. Alabaster’s spinel floats a foot behind Essun’s head as she walks. She approaches a woman who asks her only if she is from Castrima. Essun sees in the woman’s eyes that she realizes Essun is an orogene and therefore she is not a person. Essun informs her that the people of Castrima will not be joining the Rennanis. The woman argues it will be easy to starve them out and...