Chapter 32

Arkyn, the Scavenger King, hosts Einar of the Tri-Council at the Pits of Khindard battle arena. During their conversation, Arkyn reveals knowledge of impending moonfalls and announces his plan to claim the bronze throne of The Burn as the bastard son of the late Ostern Vaegor. When Einar dismisses his ambitions in favor of supporting the twins Tyroth and Cadok, Arkyn offers a provocative alternative: he will deliver Kaan Vaegor—Arkyn's half-brother and current king—to the pit for public execution, in exchange for the Tri-Council's support and ceding all northern bloodstone to them.

Arkyn watches the Pits of Khindard from his moonshard throne as razah creatures devour sacrificial offerings before a roaring crowd. Einar, the youngest Tri-Councilor, arrives as his guest but expresses boredom with the spectacle and contempt for the null workers serving them. A messenger delivers word of multiple impending moonfalls and news that King Kaan Vaegor has been outlawed for attacking Bothaim. Arkyn reveals he already knew of the falls and announces his plan to offer refuge to those who swear fealty to him as the rightful king of The Burn, claiming descent from the late Ostern Vaegor. Einar dismisses this claim, noting Ostern never acknowledged him and that the Tri-Council favors the legitimate twin heirs, Tyroth and Cadok, who will seize The Burn with their combined forces. He implies the Citadel intends to use the recent incident with Kaan to trigger a conflict that will elevate the twins. Arkyn, stung by Einar's condescension but calculating, makes a startling counterproposal: if he delivers Kaan Vaegor alive to the battle pit for public execution, will the Tri-Council support his claim to the throne? Furthermore, Arkyn offers to relinquish all claim to the northern bloodstone mines, allowing the Tri-Council to seize them entirely without splitting shares with the twins. The offer intrigues Einar, who studies Arkyn with new appreciation and concludes that should Arkyn achieve this impossible feat, he would earn not only the Citadel's favor but be deemed worthy of the bronze crown itself.