The Poppy War

As Ramsa and Rin fortify some alleys near the wharf, Ramsa complains about how boring sieges are. He explains that the Federation hasn’t tried anything big yet, as Khurdalain is well fortified and survived two Poppy Wars. Ramsa then details how he came to work for the Cike: his parents were alchemists for the Militia, and his father got involved in an extremist group. After his father was executed, Ramsa spent two years in the Baghra prison before being offered a position with the Cike. Baji was also in Baghra, and Suni, Ramsa says, is nice when his god isn’t “fucking with his head.” Ramsa has no interest in becoming a shaman—he prefers the dependability of science.

Three days later, Altan calls Rin to check in. He briefly tells her how the Warlords detest the Cike and so deny them supplies and intelligence, and Rin admits that she finds the Cike “weird.” Altan explains that the Militia hates them because they don’t understand shamans and are jealous of the Cike’s free access to drugs. He also lists each Cike’s good qualities and liabilities, and he admits that it’s nearly impossible to figure out how to best use everyone. But he has a plan, and he’s calling a meeting to discuss it.

Everyone arrives in the next few minutes, and Altan unfurls a map of Khurdalain noting where Militia and Federation units are stationed. He explains that the Federation is sending supply ships to the Murui River in three days, and he wants to sink the ships. Aratsha will manipulate the currents to trap the ships in irrigation channels, Ramsa will plant bombs, and the rest of them will defend the shore. Three nights later, Rin and Altan crouch in the mud, waiting to light off Ramsa’s bombs. Rin, Baji, and Suni have all taken drugs; Altan doesn’t need drugs to call the Phoenix. The Federation fleet of 12 arrives. To force the ships in the correct direction, Altan sends fire to detonate the bombs, which make it seem like there are lots of soldiers hiding. Minutes later, the Federation captain realizes his ships are trapped in the marsh.

Qara, a skilled archer, shoots enough arrows at the Federation to make it seem like an entire squadron is shooting at them. The boats are now burning, and Federation soldiers bail into the marsh, where Suni and Baji kill them quickly and brutally. A few soldiers break and run to where Rin and Altan hide, but Rin feels dangerously inebriated and can’t summon the fire. She becomes terrified and can’t concentrate, especially as she watches Baji and Suni, who are clearly being controlled by bloodthirsty gods right now. Just as Rin tells herself to do something, a Federation soldier grabs her ankle and crawls out of the water. To Rin’s shock, he's extremely young. Both young people are terrified as they fight, and Altan ultimately kills the Federation soldier.

Altan tells Rin to get back and calls the fire, burning soldiers as he advances. Watching him, Rin’s understanding of how the Cike relate to their gods deepens: their prayers ask the gods to “act through them.” Suddenly, it seems impossible that anyone could massacre the Speerlies, if they all fought like Altan. She watches as Altan boards the Federation’s boats, killing any surviving soldiers and throwing them into the now-boiling water. It’s horrifying. The captain kills himself before Altan can kill him, and the Cike retreat with two supply boats that Unegen and Qara stole. They hurry to the wharf, where Altan praises Ramsa for his explosives. Rin wants nothing more than to earn Altan’s praise.

Altan allows Ramsa to light a bonfire in a field, and the Cike eats sugar from the boats they stole. Altan soon excuses himself to brief the Warlords. As soon as he’s gone, Baji and Ramsa begin joking about Altan’s seriousness. Listening to Suni speak, Rin privately wonders at Altan’s bravery, putting his life in danger to talk Suni down when Suni’s god overtakes him. Ramsa interrupts Rin’s thoughts to ask if she and Altan are going to have babies and bring Speerlies back. Rin explains how she destroyed her uterus, and the Cike discusses how sad everything about Speer is.

They discuss Tearza’s suicide, and Qara notes that it’s a lie that Tearza killed herself for love: that’s Nikara propaganda. In truth, Qara says, the Phoenix offered Tearza enough power to scare Nikan off for years, but Tearza thought the sacrifice was too great and refused. The Phoenix punished her. Qara thinks her refusal was entirely inappropriate for a ruler, and that Tearza deserved to die.

Hours later, Rin is the last Cike still at the fire, and Altan joins her. They discuss her failure to perform earlier, and Altan apologizes for putting her into action before she’s had enough training. He does note that meditation isn’t appropriate in a battle setting, and he notes that Jiang is afraid and taught Rin explicitly to never call a god. Thus, Rin should disregard everything Jiang taught her and ignore his warnings about consequences. Altan counsels Rin to tap into her anger, as that will give her power. Privately, Rin remembers Jiang telling her that doing as Altan says would drive her mad, but Altan doesn’t seem mad. In fact, everyone else in the Cike seems mad, and she now thinks she knows who’s in the Chuluu Korikh. Altan suggests that calling the flames is easy for him—and he never actually stops calling the flames.