Chapter 10

Roan stands trial before the Tri-Council for allegedly stealing the Book of Voyd. He claims the book evaporated in a cloud of silver particles, but the Council finds him guilty of treason, breaking and entering, and obstruction of justice. He is publicly fire-lashed and sentenced to death by being fed to an anthe, while the narrator and Pyrok watch from the mezzanine, helpless to intervene.

The narrator observes Roan's trial in the amphitheater before the Tri-Council and fifteen councilmembers. Roan, severely beaten and malnourished, maintains that the Book of Voyd evaporated into silver particles and vanished. The Grand Chancellor dismisses this account and accuses Roan of using Runi techniques to hide the book. Roan's defense—that he would have used the book to free himself from his shackles if he possessed it—only enrages the Council. When questioned about his forced entry into the chamber, Roan reveals he had made written requests to view the book's unrendered pages, which the Council claims were damaged and illegible. Roan then directly challenges the Council, questioning whether they are withholding knowledge and obliquely references newly invisible protective runes on the Citadel's arches that shield it from moonfalls. This revelation causes widespread panic among the observers, who will spread the rumor beyond the Citadel's walls. The Grand Chancellor orders a mindweft to crack Roan's mental void, but the attempt fails and leaves the mindweft collapsed and weeping blood. The Council then announces they will summon King Kaan Vaegor to investigate his involvement, threatening trade sanctions and loss of favor. The Grand Chancellor silences Roan with crushing wind magic and pronounces three guilty verdicts: treason, breaking and entering, and perverting justice. Roan is stripped of his accolades, fire-lashed brutally across his back by the Grand Chancellor, and sentenced to death by anthe. The narrator, present with Pyrok in the mezzanine, is unable to intervene without exposing themselves. After the trial concludes and Roan is dragged away, the narrator decides they must follow the Wardens to track where Roan is taken, despite the political fallout his testimony has caused for The Burn and potential war with the Council.