Scythe

The first World Supreme Blade, Scythe Prometheus, writes that scythes are wise, but not all-seeing. He says that human nature is still a strange thing, and he can only hope that the scythes' laws will help curb its worst impulses. He hopes that the Thunderhead will help them if they ever need it.

Scythe Goddard serves his scythes a feast that night. He, Chomsky, and Rand seem thrilled with their day's work, but Rowan and Volta are disturbed. Esme whispers to Rowan that Volta is always cranky after a gleaning. Midway through the meal, Goddard learns that they gleaned 263 people—they're now ahead of their quota. Goddard is annoyed and grouses that the quota keeps them from gleaning like this daily. Volta notes that the families of the gleaned will arrive tomorrow, and Rand sighs that she hates them. Rowan excuses himself to play cards with Esme. She suggests that they ask the servants to play with them, but notes that none of them like her or Goddard, since Goddard stole their house.

Rowan understands now that Esme is a prisoner here too. He asks her if Goddard ever really talks to her, and if she knows why he granted her immunity. Esme is silent for a minute and then says that Goddard hasn't given her immunity. As Rowan heads for his bedroom, he hears crying coming from Volta's room. He lets himself in and Volta is immediately furious. Volta throws things at Rowan, but Rowan sits down. He says that he knows Volta isn't like the others. Volta says that Goddard is the future, and he doesn't want to be a part of the past. He also says that Rowan won't be able to escape this either.

Rowan says that he knows Volta only pretends to like mass gleanings. Volta slams Rowan against a wall and accuses him of blackmailing him, but Rowan says he doesn't want anything. Volta lets Rowan down and apologizes. He says that after being around Goddard, it's easy to think that everyone schemes. He says too that Goddard sees Rowan as a challenge, as if he can make one of Scythe Faraday's apprentices agree with him, he can make anyone agree. Rowan realizes that Volta isn't much older than he is, and wonders how Volta ended up with Goddard in the first place. He can see how Goddard's charisma is attractive.

Rowan whispers that he thinks Goddard is a killer, not a scythe, and killing like Goddard does is wrong. Volta says that the old scythes are rolling in their graves over Goddard, but there's nothing to do but join Goddard. It makes life easier. Rowan thinks that he knows now how easy it'd be to become a monster like Goddard.