AFTERWORD

Chapter 78

Chapter 86

Overview

In a flashback set eighteen years before the present timeline, young Szeth stands trial for his reckless destruction of raider ships. After the Honorbearers discover the Voice has been guiding him, they recruit him as a shaman acolyte, and his father Neturo chooses to follow him to a monastery city, while his mother Zeenid refuses to leave and ends their family.

Summary

Szeth waits outside the General's office for judgment following his unauthorized attack on three raider ships three days earlier. His sister Elid visits him and reveals that the Farmer's offerings to the raiders are meant to appease them, not feed their hunger as the Voice claimed. When summoned inside, the tribunal—consisting of Honorbearers Pozen, Sivi, and Vambra, the Farmer, Rit-daughter-Clutio, the General, and his father Neturo—initially sentences Szeth to the mines. However, when the three Honorbearers recognize that the Voice has been speaking to Szeth since childhood and guiding his actions, they intervene. They reveal that the Voice is something only the highest members of society understand and recruit Szeth as a shaman acolyte to train at Pozen's monastery. Szeth's father refuses to abandon him and insists on accompanying his family to the city outside the monastery. The caravan departs, but Szeth's mother Zeenid announces she will not leave, unwilling to sacrifice her life again for her family. She returns alone to the camp, refusing even to say goodbye. Neturo, Elid, and Szeth continue on with the Honorbearers, their family fractured.

Characters

  • SzethA nineteen-year-old soldier whose unauthorized attack on raider ships leads to his recruitment as a shaman acolyte after the Honorbearers discover the Voice speaking to him.
  • ElidSzeth's sister who visits him before his tribunal and later accompanies the family caravan away from the monastery.
  • PozenAn elderly Honorbearer with white beard who leads the recruitment of Szeth and takes him to his monastery.
  • SiviAn Honorbearer who participates in the tribunal and recruitment of Szeth, suggesting a solution to the Tuko problem.
  • VambraA young female Truthwatcher Honorbearer who questions Szeth about the Voice and advocates for his commendation.
  • NeturoSzeth's father who chooses to leave the monastery and accompany his son to the city outside Pozen's monastery.
  • The FarmerAn elderly, colorfully-dressed figure who initially proposes sending Szeth to the high pass but is dismissed before the Honorbearers reveal their true plans.
  • Rit-daughter-ClutioThe head shaman of the monastery who participates in the tribunal.
  • The GeneralA military commander who presides over the initial tribunal and learns of Szeth's recruitment as a hero.
  • ZeenidSzeth's mother who refuses to leave camp and abandon her old life, departing without saying goodbye.
  • The VoiceA mysterious entity that has been communicating with Szeth since childhood, revealed to be known to the Honorbearers.
  • JormoA person at the camp whose reaction to Szeth's commendation Szeth does not witness.