Jade City

Doru escapes after Kaul Sen gives him his jade. Hilo is enraged and Shae tries to assuage him by promising to find Doru.

Shae informs Hilo that No Peak can only financially survive the conflict with Mountain for another six months before they are completely out of money. Hilo wonders who could replace him as Pillar; he realizes that if he dies, No Peak dies with him. In desperation, he strategizes how to take down Mountain during No Peak’s death throes: If he must die, he may as well do some harm on the way out.

Wen takes the ferry to Euman, an Espenian island close to Janloon. She smuggles jade in an urn, claiming it to be human remains and feigning grief to pass undetected through Mountain check points.

On Euman, she meets with Colonel Deiller and shows him the jade, passing on Shae’s offer to start trade in secret while the jade drought caused by the clan conflict rages. Desperate for jade, Deiller passes the offer to his superiors, hoping to restart the jade influx to Espenia.

Anden’s crush Lott’s father is beheaded. When Hilo pays respects to Lott’s family, he treats Lott like a member of the clan, earning the young man’s respect and admiration. Hilo will need as many bodies as he can get in the conflict, so finding reliable graduates from Kaul Dushuron Academy is a must.

Hilo thinks back to the beginning of his friendship with the Maik brothers. They fought each other for honor at school, and when no one submitted during the long fight, mutual respect developed.

Eiten, one of Hilo’s Fists, is attacked by Gont Asch and his men, who cut off and cauterize both his arms. He makes it back to Hilo to deliver a message from Gont Asch: On New Year’s Day, Hilo can choose a death of consequence to save the rest of No Peak from annihilation, or have his family and clan murdered. If he accepts the death of consequence, every other member of No Peak can join Mountain or flee the country safely.

After delivering the message, Eiten begs Hilo to kill him to save him from his misery and shame. Hilo convinces him to wait a year before making such a decision and to spend time with his wife and new child.

When the deity Jenshu’s nephew Baijen falls in battle to General Sh’ak, he is given a place in heaven. From there, he watches his people suffer and asks the gods and to be allowed to return to Earth instead. When Baijen comes back, he kills Sh’ak. Sh’ak goes to heaven in Baijen’s place, while Baijen is then cursed to wander the Earth forever. This story spawns the saying, “Pray to Jenshu, but be like Baijen” (444), emphasizing the importance of personal sacrifice for the sake of the community.

Shae and Hilo sit together on New Year’s Eve. Hilo decides to accept the death of consequence, so the two are preparing for the chance that he loses. Shae knows that if that happens, she will also die.

Hilo tells her that a secret autopsy showed that Lan had been using SN1. Although Ayt Mada did not directly order Lan’s murder, her clan is responsible for fostering the conditions that led to his demise.

Hilo and Wen marry. If Hilo dies, this will give her protection and resources. During the short wedding ceremony, Hilo grapples with the conflicting responsibilities of being a Pillar and a husband. After the ceremony, the couple has sex, reveling in each other’s presence.

Anden completes his Trials and joins the Kauls for a New Year’s Eve dinner. Kaul Sen has shed almost all his jade and his advanced age is pronounced. He makes disparaging comments to Anden about his mother’s problems with the Itches.

After dinner, Anden takes his oath and officially joins No Peak. The oath is usually taken at graduation, but since he passed the Trials, Hilo allows Anden to pledge himself early. In reality, the hasty oath is necessary because Anden has a part to play in the death of consequence the following day.

Anden drives Hilo to the death of consequence. Hilo ensures that Gont Asch has kept his promises to let the rest of No Peak remain unharmed; if this doesn’t turn out to be the case, No Peak will fight to the bitter end, hurting Mountain and destroying the city. Hilo asks Gont Asch to deliver the final blow if necessary; Gont Asch responds that it would be a pleasure to kill Hilo.

Hilo makes easy work of the first few men, exhibiting superior jade wielding and swordsmanship. As he cuts them down, he taunts the others, causing Gont Asch’s men to swarm. As Hilo’s weapon clatters out of the huddle, indicating that the onslaught has bested him, Gont Asch calls off his men and moves in to deliver the killing blow. Just then, Hilo calls to Anden.

Anden rushes in and throws himself on top of Hilo, pulling a string of jade from Hilo’s sleeve. The jade gives Anden immense power, and with it, he launches a Channeling attack on Gont Asch, who freezes just long enough for Hilo to rise and stab Gont Asch, providing an opening for Anden to kill Mountain’s Horn. The power of his death rushes into Anden; it is too much for Anden to control, so he is forced to release it into the remaining Mountain men, killing two of them. Anden revels in the deaths of those around him and thrives on the immense power he can wield. This scares the remaining Green Bones away.

Anden drops the jade and faints.

Anden wakes in the hospital and finds Hilo alive, brought there by the Maik brothers, who were waiting nearby during the death of consequence. Killing Gont Asch turned the tide of the war; in the aftermath, No Peak reclaimed all their territory and more. Hilo warns Anden that Ayt Mada will push back eventually, but declares that they will kill her as well. Anden struggles with the intense craving for jade and worries he will be like his mother. Hilo reassures him, telling him that they are dosing him with small amounts of SN1 to help him reestablish equilibrium.

When Anden makes it out of the hospital to graduation day, his classmates treat him with the respect usually reserved for a Fist. As students take their oaths for their different vocations, Hilo chooses Lott to lead those joining No Peak. The students then receive their jade. When it is Anden’s turn, the crowd chants, “Kaul-jen,” recognizing him as a member of the Kaul family. When his jade is offered, Anden panics and runs, refusing the boon.

Hilo is enraged and shamed by Anden’s refusal. He cannot grasp the extent of Anden’s worries about jade making him like the act of killing. Anden accuses Hilo of wanting to make him a weapon and ignoring his real concerns. Shae tries to assuage Hilo, but when Anden will not change his mind, Hilo exiles him from the family.

Anden runs to Lan’s tombstone. When Shae finds him, she tells him that no matter what happens or what Anden does, Lan would always be proud of Anden.

Shae receives a letter from Doru warning her that Ayt Mada will hit back hard. Shae should make plans to escape Janloon. She burns the letter.

Later, at the Twice Lucky with her family, Shae tries to force Hilo to forgive Anden, but he will not. Anden is safe at their mother’s, but Shae hopes to one day facilitate his return. Mr. Une cuts off his left ear and gives it to Hilo in hopes of earning forgiveness for turning to the Mountain during the crisis. Hilo grants forgiveness and the relief that Mr. Une feels is felt throughout the restaurant. Other patrons crowd Hilo and Shae until Hilo asks for a moment alone with Shae.

Bero and Mudt’s son go to Lan’s grave. Bero exhumes Lan, planning to claim the jade he believes he is owed for killing Lan. He hopes that with the jade, his luck will finally turn.