Chapter 17 Summary

Notices are posted throughout the city. Corbel will give a great feast to celebrate the end of his first year of rule. It is said that there will be mountains of bread, made from the finest white flour, barrels of wine and puppet shows for the amusement of the guests and slaves. When the day comes, Yul is too frightened to attend, so Birle goes alone. She catches a glimpse of Orien near the table of bread and ale, but he slips away before she can speak to him.

Birle is sure that Orien is avoiding her. She manages to catch up with him, to warn him about the approaching war. Orien tells her that it is none of his concern. He has been sold to the mines, and will be sent there shortly. Birle urges Orien to escape somehow, and join her...