Difference between revisions of "Summary:White Sand"

*[[A'Kar|A'kar]]

Duchess Khrissalla and company have arrived at the port of [[Dosha-Har'Ken]]. They leave Private [[Torth]] to watch the luggage, while Baon, Flennid and the Professors join Khrissalla in searching for supplies. They find that every time their linguist, Professor Cynder, tries speaking "Daysider language" to somebody, they scream and run away. Professor Acron notices a merchant with a sign in [[Dynastic]] and the group begins purchasing supplies. The merchant also offers his nephew [[Daazk]] as a guide for them to travel to [[Lossand]]. In the distance, they hear some Daysider language that they can understand and come upon the [[A'Kar|A'kar]] preaching in a public square. Professor Cynder attempts to talk to the speaker, who denounces them for using the holy language—as they retreat they realize the reason that nobody would talk to them was because they had learned the [[Karshad|language of the clergy]].

[[Khrissalla's_Journal#Sand_Masters|Recruit]] Traiben displays potential and Recruit Drile, son of Mastrell [[ReenstMastrell Rile|Rile]], is mentioned as showing the most potential seen in years. Lord Mastrell Praxton and Elorin discuss that it was a strong year of recruits—until it is Kenton's turn to be [[Khrissalla's_Journal#Sand_Mastery_Test|test]]ed for sand mastery. He displays only the smallest measure of potential in sand mastery, a fact which embarrasses his father. He joins despite protests from his father that he should pursue another profession; as Kenton argues that the law says he cannot be prohibited from entering the Diem as an Acolent.

*[[A'Kar|A'kar]] (mentioned only)

*[[Lord Mason|Lady Mason]]

Khriss wants to join Kenton for his next appointment, but Kenton notes that by [[Khrissalla's_Journal#Dayside_Timekeeping|Taishin Standard time]] all of the Taishin will have closed their offices at twelfth hour. When he mentions that he intends to see Lord [[Raagent]], Khriss mentions that she was turned away from the Tower because the {{[[Lord General]] had left on a Deep Sand hunt. Aarik mentions that his father—the Lord General—uses hunting trips to avoid people. Kenton resolves to go find him, but he convinces Khriss that joining him on a trip to the Deep Sand is an order of magnitude more dangerous than their trip across the Kerla.

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 believe 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 compimentcompliment. 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.

*[[A'Kar|A'kar]] (mentioned only)

*[[A'Kar|A'kar]] (mentioned only)

*[[RennoldTarn Pharl(Taldain)|Tarn the Tonk]]

Tain arrives at the scene of [[RennoldTarn Pharl(Taldain)|Tarn the Tonk]]'s death. Trackt Tain notes that the skull is caved in. As Tain examines the body he reads a warning note from Sharezan and shows it to the other trackt, who says they should show it to Senior Trackt Ais. Tain agrees, but notes they will have to travel to the Diem, since Ais was returning there.

The group goes to a restaurant and is discussing Vey andwhen Kenton mentions that there is no way a Kerztian would continue paying the tribute when it violates Ker'reen law unless there was a powerful motive. Kenton explains that the reason Ker'reen preaches against sand mastery is that they believe the sand is the Sand Lord's body and that mankind was never meant to wield powere reserved for the Sand Lord. Aarik interrupts to mention he's noticed that assassins have surrounded them.

*[[Lord Mason|Lady Mason]] (mentioned only)

On their way, they make a stop at Ais's house so she can leave a note for her husband since she will be in harm's way. Kenton waits outside while Ais is inside. Kenton realizes he never considered if she had a family and Ais confesses that she tried to send them away for protection, but her husband would not listen. When Kenton tries to offer reassurances, she admonishes him that he has no idea how dangerous the criminal underground can be. While they are inside the meeting place, Ais hears someone with a limp climbing the stairs, and assumes it to be Nilto. Realizing the meeting may be a trap, she and Kenton jump out the window to safety as the building explodes behind them. Ais says the building must have been rigged with napthani flame, and Kenton remarks they have more in common then they thought, since somebody must want Ais dead too.

Kenton is meeting with Dirin, who was told that the [[Lord Mason|Lady Mason]] is willing to vote for the Diem because of Kenton's actions in saving her workers on the construction site, as well as caring for their well-being. Khrissalla arrives and tells Kenton what happened with Gevin, Baon, and Acron. Baon and Cynder arrive, and Cynder asks if what happened with Jon is true. Baon explains the situation, including why he killed Captain Deral and the lieutenant: who were planning to sell their party to the Dynasty patrol. He was forced to act to protect both of their missions.

Aarik arrives bearing the news that the Lord General and the Lord Merchant are both missing. Ais confirms that because Kenton needs a unanimous vote that if there is even one abstained vote due to nonattendance, then his case to save the Diem will fail. Kenton asks Khriss if she would like to provide diplomatic support when he visits the Lord Farmer tomorrowthe next day.

*[[A'Kar|A'kar]] (mentioned only)

The group goes to the port, and Kenton tries asking Dockmaster [[NaiMeer]] for a ship to Lraezare. NaiMeer refuses him passage, stressing that while there are ships heading toward Lraezare, none have space for a sand master—and ships are the one transportation that sand masters cannot commandeer. Delius arrives and greets "Lord Vey's favorite nephew" while informing him that he has business with the [[Shipowners' Circle]] in Lraezare and reminds him that the Lord Admiral absolutely can commandeer any ship. Delius then 'innocently' asks if the Lord Mastrell's party would like to accompany him. Kenton takes him up on the offer. As the ship leaves port, Kenton considers if the Lord Admiral's drunkeness is an act and whether he is a reliable ally.

Delius continues, telling Kenton how he started in the Guild and was a successful enough merchant to become one of few candidates for Lord Merchant; until Vey convinced him to become a partner in a mining venture. Vey then sabotaged the operation until Delius had lost almost all of his wealth; bought Delius' share as a "favor;" and suddenly found lakstone and became rich enough to win the Lord Merchant position. Delius quit the Guild in disgust and joined the Helm. Within a decade he had rebuilt his fortune and had one of the largest fleets on Dayside, so the Circle "promoted" him to Lord Admiral so they could commit "legal theft through the bestowal of honor." Delius explains that grapes are a Darkside import and growing them to make wine on Dayside is prohibitively expensive in both money and water; that is why he drinks so much and always opposes Vey on the Council.

Kenton guesses that Vey owes the 5,000,000 lak to the Diem and not vice versa; likely because when a person becomes Lord Merchant, they inherit both the wealth andof debtthe ofprevious Lord Merchant, and likely their predecessorspredecessor's debt as well. Vey tells Kenton the story of [[Hennin]], an idiot who only became Lord Merchant because he inherited fortunes from both of his parents despite having no sense for business. A previous Lord Mastrell used the tribute money to open a savings account, but Hennin squandered the principal sum on bad investments. The Lord Judge at the time ruled that all monies and interest were owed to the Diem from the office of the Lord Merchant, and. sinceSince the sums are so high—no Lord Merchant has ever been able to pay down the debt and every Lord Mastrell has since used that debt as blackmail.

Kenton forgives the debt without any strings attached and asks for a 2,000,000 lak loan to pay off the Diem's other debts. The Diem will begin earning income working with the other professions for the good of Lossand. The Lord Merchant notes that if he does not vote for the Diem, then he can never make money from such a loan. Kenton realizes that his combined Kerztian and business sensibilities won't allow Vey to consider a "gift," but a trade both mollifies Vey's conscience and gives him a way to account for his actions to the Kelzin. Vey notes that he will continue to curse the Diem in public, until he votes to reinstate the Diem.

As they depart, Kenton asks Vey where Raagentthe Lord General is staying in Lraezare. Lord Vey says they did not travel together, and he didn't know Raagent was in Lraezare.

Meanwhile Lokkall tells Delius that the Circle had "need" of his ship, and it has already set sail without them: leaving their possessions on the docks. Delius responds that he'll simply commandeer another ship as is his right as Lord Admiral. Lokkall says that the Circle has unanimously decided to remove him from his position as Taisha of the Helm both because of his drunkeness and because of his professed support for the Diem. As Kenton, Ais, and Vey return, Delius makesmanipulates Lokkall repeatinto repeating (in front of a Hall witness) that he has been ''released'' from the position of Lord Admiral. Lokkall gloats and says that it also means they are all stranded in Lraezare.

Delius, suddenly sober, immediately asks his "steward" for the "documents." While Lokkall continues to mock him, Delius signs the documents, then asks Ais , in her position as a representative of the Hall, to verify their legality. Lokkall repeatedly questions of why the contents of the documents would need ratification. Delius reminds him that while the Charter forbids the Lord Admiral from owning any property or working any craft for profit, it never forbade his servants anything. Since his son was also his steward, the documents Delius signed transferred ownership of an entire fleet of ships to him from his son, twelve of which are currently docked in Lraezare. He then tells his son to order the entire fleet (not just the twelve at Lraezare) to blockade the port of Kezare for the "foreseeable future—atfuture"—at least a month.

The Circle goes into a panic upon hearing this. Delius reminds Lokkall that when you steal a man's fortune and place him in a figurehead position that is mocked by all, you should not give him five years to plan andthen provide a chance atfor revenge. Delius then addresses the rest of the Circle and nominates Lokkall as new Lord Admiral, reminding them that he may rescind his "hasty" orders if they agree. It's unanimous. Delius then tells Lokkall that he will hold all of his ships on his behalf. If he votes for the Diem, he will return them to him and vote a new Lord Admiral in his place. ThatDelius notes that it is more mercy than the circleCircle ever gave to him.

The ship is boarded by Kerztian assassins who immediately start attacking the crew. Ais sees the assassin's boat pull up next to their ship through the porthole, and she and Baon try to get to the deck, but find the attackers have barred the door to prevent reinforcements. Lord Vey asks Professor Cynder why Kenton isn't mastering sand, and Cynder replies in halting Lossandin that Kenton is recovering. Kenton throws some sand in the eyes of some attackers, which is not repelled because it was not being mastered. Aarik has taken cover behind some cargo, and listens to the fighting with a pained expressionsexpression; Delius, his son, and Khiss, are nearby behind another group of boxes. Khriss is talking at Aarik in Dynastic, while Delius thinks she is talking to him and explains that he can't understand her. Khriss pointedly notes that without Baon and Ais, there is nobody to help Kenton against the assassins, While Kenton is thinking about how he expected that overmastering on this trip should have been "safe."

Aarik tackles one of the assassins from behind, grabs his spear and throws it through another assassin and into the bulkhead, pinning the corpse. He then picks up that assassin's sword and dispatches two more, giving another sword to Kenton and they fight back-to-back. Kenton is considering the changes in Aarik once he touched a sword again, and notes that the "carefree wanderer" is gone and only the "Tower trained warrior" remains. The assassins are finished.

Baon and Ais are released. Ais argues with Delius thatwhen he suggests the Kerztian Warrior bodies should just be burned. Kenton compromises and says they can place the bodies on their own boat and tow it back to Kezare. Baon doubts Aarik could have been that good of a fighter since he didn't previously show any of the tells of a trained warrior. Aarik keeps the sword and stows it through his belt, then very formally asks how long the remaining trip will take. Kenton triedtries to tell his friend he doesn't have to be so formal again, but Aarik just replies with one of his father's favorite aphorisms. Aarik apologizes to Khrissalla for any impropriety he may have shown her before then excuses himself to return to his rooms. Khriss is baffled at the changes in Aarik's demeanor, and Kenton speculates that is part of the reason he fled Dayside.

As Baon and Ais load the bodies onto the assassins' boat, Ais is consumed by her own thoughts. She recalls Aarik's fight with Lokmlen and how she had thought the Sand Lord was showing her a way to fight without giving in to her rage. Seeing the change in Aarik disturbs her because she fears falling to his fate as well.

Delius tells Kenton they might not have finished the journey without Baon's help at sailing since so many crew were killed. KrhissKhriss pesters Kenton about his sand mastery, and he admits that it has returned and his deductions were correct. Kenton laments that he has to find the Lord General in one day and Khriss suggests that they ask Ais to help them find the missing Taisha. Ais initially refuses until Khriss, though Kenton's translation, reminds her that as a trackt the wellbeing of a missing Taisha should be her top priority, even over guarding Kenton. Leaving Cynder, Delius, and his son behind, the group goes to the Tower.

Gremt tells everybody that Raagent was, impatiently, resting from his wounds but was prone to sneaking out to go wandering when he could ditch the guards. They go to Raagent's room, where Ais finds spots of blood on the floor and sees that his bed is missing its sheet. Ais infers that moving a body past the gueardsguards would be very difficult and believes that Raagent is still in the Tower. She asks after a basement, but Gremt says they only have a WinWine Cellar.

Ais notes that Lord Raagent's eyelids have been cut off and that he was tied to the wall with his [[shalrim]] bedsheets. She speculates that the wax mounds were candles of different lengths and his eyelids were removed so he could not hide from the ever-decreasing light as each candle burned out. Ais finds traces of [[Kamo]] on his lips and infers that it was used to make the Lord General die from fright. Privately, Ais notes that this has all of the elements of Sharezan's tortures. She then makes the connection that if Raagent would have walked with a limp, he may have been her anonymous informant that was due to meet them at the warehouse the other night. She voices her suspicion to Kenton that Sharezan most likley killed Raagent personally.

*[[Lord Mason|Lady Mason]]

On the trip back to the Diem from the Tower, Kenton discusses his regret for ruining Aarik's life. Khriss tells him that no matter how hard the choice was, regrets and all, he ''did'' make the best choice for his people. Baon theorizes that Raagent was killed to sabotage the Diem's chances at winning the vote of the Taishin. Or, at least, if the assassins truly want the Diem to fail, then Ais and the other Taishin are likely to be in danger as well. Kenton leaves them to return to the Diem and takes the ferry back to Kezare.

Ais gives the Lady Judge a report on Raagent's murder, and Judge Heelis asks Ais to return to her duties with the Lord Mastrell while a team is assigned to the murder investigation. On her way out, Tain intercepts her, saying that they found Sharezan. andHe invitinginvites her to join him on the raid. Tain hands Ais a zinkall while explaining that Lokmlen finally broke under questioning and revealed the safehouse location. They go off together.

When they arrive at the location, Ais notes it is a nondescript building hidden in plain sight. Movement is heard as they enter and Tain reminderreminds her that his team is already inside. Lokmlen steps out of the shadows and Ais warns Tain they have been betrayed. Tain replies that ''she'' has. She asks Tain if he was bought, and he replies in the negative. Ais quickly realizes that Tain is Sharezan, though she had suspected Nilto. Tain tells her that there was no better cover than as a trackt, and he used that to feed her suspicions about the Lord Beggar and regrets not having enough time to frame him properly. He whines about how even getting assigned to her team was not enough to stay ahead of her progress in dismantling his organization.

She attempts to shoot Tain, only to find the zinkall was sabotaged, about which Tain laughs that she should only accept gear from people she trusts. As his cronies"team" knock Ais to her knees, he informs her about his plan to hide out for a few years then return under a new name and in new locations. But he wants to conclude his unfinished business with her first. Tain explains his "hobby" is finding how to break his target—and Ais is so easy. He starts by revealing her "secret" and claims that the entire Hall knows that she is so obsessed with control that she bottles her emotions until they explode uncontrolled. Tain claims this arises from the conflict inside her: trackt or Kerztian, cold-hearted warrior or loving mother, pious or traitor. Tain will make her chose duty or family.

Tain tells her that he has had Lokmlen plant a firetrap in the orphanage she grew up in, and he is going to go to her house to kill her family, but she won't have time to save them both. He then instructs his men to hold her for one minute and then let her go. Tain and Lokmlen leave in opposite directions and his men start the countdown. As soon as they release her, Ais follows Lokmlen and desperately searches for another trackt. She is out of breath and panicking when she finds one, but manages, between gasps, to tell him about the fire trap at the orphanage. She then heads for home thinking she has condemned her family.

Praying and out of breath, she stumbles toward her house. When she nears the house, she hears a loud banging sound coming from inside. In a panic, and afraid of what she will find, Ais runs upstairs to the unsecured door. When she gets inside, she sees Tain, holding a sword, being thrown through a wall by Kenton. Ais asks after her family and Kenton, as he uses ribbons to lift Tain into the air by his throat, says they are safe in the next room because he interrupted the assassin. Ais tells him that Tain is not a kerztianKerztian assassin, but is the criminal Sharezan she has been investigating. Kenton offers to finish snapping his neck and Ais asks him to bind him instead so he can face justice. Ais then runs to her family and weeps with them. Mellis comments that it was lucky her friend came to visit, and she realizes her husband understands better than she does. Ais thanks Kenton and asks why he came. Kenton relates the theory that she and the Taishin may be in danger from the assassins.

Ais goes to LadyHigh Judge Heelis to resign her position. Heelis asks her to keep her job for at least one more day, and Ais agrees. Heelis then asks Ais to accompany her to the duel at the Diem, because it will be important for the leaders of Lossand to understand what sand masters may be capable of doing when threatened.

*[[Lord Mason|Lady Mason]]

Kenton sees a vision of the day he tested to enter the Diem and considers if it is a dream or a hallucination. Instead of the words spkenspoken then, the vision Kenton and Praxton are discussing the fight with Drile. Vision Kenton says he now agrees with Praxton that he never belonged in the Diem. Vision Praxton reminds Kenton that he claimed to be as good as any Mastrell with only one ribbon and that he is losing not because he is weaker, but becusebecause he is trying to be something he is not. Kenton himslefhimself thinks about how that optimistic boy really believed he could be as good as any Mastrell with one ribbon. Kenton realizes that it is not how much power you have—it is how you use what power you have.

In a move of seeming desperation, Drile attempts to do what Praxton did in the Kerla, and create an explosion of sand to overpower Kenton. Kenton tries warning him that it is too dangerous and he shouldn't do it. Kenton then covers his arm with sand and taclestackles Drile, causing all of the mastered sand to go stale. Kenton calls for water and a stetcher while Drile asks why and how Kenton saved him. Kenton explains that, just like two ribbons colliding head-on, by tackling him while they were both mastering sand it cancelled all of the ribbons. Kenton them helps Drile to stand and tells him he is ready to listen and work together. Then Drile is carried away on a stretcher, extremely dehydrated.

Kenton relates that he has met her conditions, the Diem's debts are paid (by the Lord Merchant), and the Diem has a single leader. Heelis says there was a third condition, that of gaining the support of the people of Lossand. Heelis says that since she is biased in favor of the Diem, she chose the person in the Hall most opposed to the Diem to be his guard. The Hall's vote will be cast by Senior Trackt Ais, because if heKenton could win her over, then Kenton could convince other citizens.

Ais recalls telling Kenton how he would try to win her favor or build comraderie with her. How, even if he saved her life she would not be blinded to his blasphemies. She then recalls how he saved something far more important. She tells the Judge (and audianceaudience) how Kenton not only aided her, but did so while abiding by her terms, so she votes in favor of the Diem. Khriss runs out, telling Kenton how N'Teese had been translating everything for them and congratulates him on saving the Diem. Ais walks away thinking she had betrayed her family the day prior and has now betrayed her god.

As Ais walks away thinking she had betrayed her family the day prior and has now betrayed her god, Dirin comes to get Kenton, saying that Drile wants to speak with him.

Elorin relates how he converted six months ago and that was why he gave up the position as head of the Acolents. He stopped mastering sand and allowed people to assume he had burnt out. He says that the A'kar told him to remain in the Diem so he could orchestrate its downfall from within. He then says that because it is a new day, he is allowed to try assassinating Kenton again. Eloring pulls out a zinkall and shoots a terken arrow at Kenton. Kenton dodges while sending a ribbon of sand through Elorin's heart, killing him; but takes a grazing wound to the arm. Ais comes in saying she heard the end of the conversation, to include KentonsKenton's pleas to not attack. In her judgement it was self defense. She then adds that since the head of the assassins is now dead, Kenton should be safe until he makes another powerful enemy. He asks if she would return if the assassins do, but Ais, thinking of spending time with family, tells him she has other important tasks.

:'''KentonKenton—Khriss'''

Two weeks later, Kenton is preparing to say goodbye to Khriss, Baon, and Cynder, who are boarding a ship back to Darkside. They are also taking several large barrels of charged sand and a few sand masters so that Khriss can further experiment and try to find a way to [[Khrissalla's_Journal#Sand_Mastery.2C_Starmarks_Connection.3F|recharge]] sand on Darkside. They also intend to test people to see if the myth that Darksiders cannot master sand is true. Kenton promises to visit sometime because he has always wanted to see his mother's heritage and discover if he has family on Darkside. Kenton will also need to bring the sand masters back after their contract is complete.

Kenton and Drile stand together on a balcony, overlooking some of the families of sand masters that are moving into the Diem now that they are allowed to do so. Drile quips that the previous mastrells would not recognize the place anymore, and Kenton tells him that it's not "their" Diem anymore and their insistance on remaining separate from society is what caused most of the problems they faced.

On the ship to Darkside [[Hoid]] is playing a song about how great achievements can be made by small actions. As an unnamed Lestrell puts sand in Baon's hand, Khriss recites what Kenton told her of the test for sand mastery—to feel every grain of sand and offer it the water of your body. Baon indicates his hesitence, only to set off a reaction stronger than anybody has seen so far. Khriss asks if he is all right, and he responds that he is merely surprised.