Editors
218
edits
Difference between revisions of "Summary:White Sand"
→Chapter 8: My Assassins
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;Characters
{{columns|
*[[Kenton]] (Point of View)▼
*[[Ais]]▼
*[[Ais]] (Point of View)
▲*[[Kenton]]
*[[Khrissalla]] (Point of View)▼
*[[Dirin]]▼
*[[Elorin]]▼
*[[Aarik]]
*[[Jon Acron]]▼
*[[N'Teese]]
▲*[[Khrissalla]]
▲*[[Elorin]]
*[[Baon]]
▲*[[Dirin]]
*[[Heelis]]
*[[Nilto]]
*[[Gevin]] (mentioned only)
*[[Cynder]] (mentioned only)
*[[Deral]] (mentioned only)
}}
;Plot Summary
:'''Kenton and Ais'''
:''The Diem''
Kenton, checking the Diem's records to try and trace the cause of the remaining debt, is attacked by assassins—the assassins and their zinkallin bolts are somehow terken, and therefore impervious to sand mastery. Kenton, draws his sword and, taking advantage of the smaller rooms, prevents being overwhelmed by too many opponents at one time. He then realizes that even if sand cannot affect the assassins, it can certainly wield other things that can. In the courtyard, Dirin hears noises from above and another acolent quips that it is probably Kenton trying to figure out his father's filing system.
Kenton uses his sand mastery to lift the desk and attack them with it, knocking one of the assassins off of the balcony and alerting the Diem to the attack. Ais, after a brief morality struggle, realizes she cannot let her beliefs interfere with duty and rushes to help Kenton. Kenton escapes through the hole made by the falling assassin to go to the roof and buy time for reinforcements; but finds more assassins already waiting there with rappelling ropes meant to lower them to his rooms.
Ais gains the roof by climbing from the balcony and pulling an assassin over the edge from behind, then shoots the final assassin with her zinkall. Ais verifies that eight assassins have been defeated and informs Kenton that according to Ker'Reen law he will be safe for one day. She points out the two new scars on the forehead of one of the assassins, identifying them as assassin’s marks. Ais tells Kenton that he has been targeted as an enemy of the Kerztian peoples and that by Ker'Reen law a specific family has been tasked with killing him. They may send up to eight warriors every other day until they succeed in killing him unless he can find and defeat their leader first—usually the family head—who must be nearby to direct the assassin teams.
While explaining this, Ais is studying the attack for forensic evidence and discovers the assassins' bodies and weapons are coated in a clear paste. Kenton theorizes that it could be the dissolved carapace of a terken Deep Sandling, and Ais confirms that the process is only known to the A'Kar and the King of Kerzta. When Kenton tries to thank her, Ais makes sure he knows that she still hates him. Internally, Ais begins wondering if she really is [[Kerzta|Zensha]] for saving the Lord Mastrell.
:''Later''
Tain informs Kenton that the investigation is complete and the trackts who had been summoned after the fight will be returning to The Hall. Kenton notices an approaching figure in Diem robes pass the departing trackts and descends to the courtyard to find Elorin, who was in charge of Acolents before being becoming a Diem administrator. Elorin explains that he overmastered and has lost his ability to master sand, which is why he did not return the Diem. However, after going to his home village he found he did not fit there either, since that was the first time he had returned after leaving at ten years old. He felt guilty about abandoning the Diem, and returned to see if there was a place for him since he heard some sand masters had survived. Kenton welcomes him back enthusiastically.
:'''Khriss'''
:''Day 56''
:''Sixth Hour—The Hall''
Khrissalla, with N'Teese and Baon, wait to meet the High Judge since a letter from the Lord Mastrell has now allowed her to get appointments with some Taishin. Khriss speculates about how sand mastery could work, wondering where the energy comes from and what the practical limits may be. She resolves to try being nice to Kenton in the hopes that he will share the secrets with her. When their party is admitted to meet the Lady Judge, Heelis tells her that the city's perception of sand mastery must change, so if she can convince Nilto to support sand mastery then the populace may give the Diem a chance to improve.
:''Kezare Slums''
N'Teese arranges a meeting, so Khriss, appalled at the conditions, meets with the Lord Beggar in a filthy alley of the slums. Nilto takes a moment to send a young boy on an errand while Khiss is explaining how she would like him to support the Diem, because Gevin had come looking for support from the Diem for Darkside and the Diem must survive for her to fulfill his wishes. Nilto tells her "never to beg a beggar" because he does not beleive a Mastrell can actually help the poor of Lossand instead of serving only thier own bloated egos. The boy returns with a small parcel, which Nilto gives to Duchess Khrissalla; it has Prince Gevalden's pistol and signet ring. Nilto refuses to explain how and why he has them, informing her that nobility in all forms makes him sick. Khrissalla calls him a "horrible man," which Nilto takes as a compiment. The Lord Beggar leaves and, while they return to the Lonzare, Baon questions the wisdom of allowing Cynder to lock the pistol and ring in his repaired trunk until they can be returned to Gevin's parents.
:''Eleventh Hour—Lonzare''
Later, at
{{anchor|Chapter 9}}
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