Summary

Chapter 32 opens with another lamentation from the Night of Knives as the writer says it would be better that they had died than been spared.

Xiala wakes up on the barge and recalls the need she saw in Serapio the night before. Unfortunately, she cannot remember the important things that he said and heads up top. There, she meets the young woman from the night before who introduces herself as Aishe, a member of Clan Water Strider. She reveals that a family member runs the barge and they are headed to Sun Rock for the solstice, but Yatliza’s death has dampened many people’s excitement. She explains what happened at the funeral and talks about the Odohaa before inviting Xiala to watch Serapio spar with the other men. Xiala is stunned at his expertise and sees curiosity from the others when Serapio...