The Gilded Ones

The following evening, Deka, Belcalis, Britta, and Gazal meet White Hands, who is sitting by the lake with wine and weapons; the latter are metal instead of wooden practice weapons. White Hands says she is making the four of them her champions. Gazal is scared by the lake and White Hands tries to get her to say why; eventually Gazal admits her family (House of Agarwal) locked her in a cage under the lake and drowned her over and over again. White Hands drags Gazal towards the lake by her hair and only stops when Gazal says her family is no one and nothing to her.

Then White Hands throws Gazal a sword and tells her to fight someone; Gazal chooses Deka and tries to behead her. After Gazal hits Deka in the forearm, Deka decides not to die this day. As Gazal lunges, Deka dodges and slams the pommel of her sword into Gazal’s skull, knocking her unconscious. White Hands approves.

Belcalis asks why they were chosen. White Hands says Belcalis has rage; Gazal has pain; Britta is loyal and will do what must be done; and Deka is unnatural. Deka asks what she is.