Summary

Chapter Twenty-One beings with Cike traveling up the Golyn River towards Golyn Niis. RIn is extremely concerned that they are going to arrive too late. During the journey, Rin asks Baji why Chaghan is subordinate to Altan. Baji explains that that Chaghan was unhappy about it but when Altan challenged him to a duel and won, he gladly began to follow Altan's orders. Later on, Rin begins to drift asleep but awakened by something in the water bumping against the boat. The Cike look over the side of the boat and see that the river is stained red with blood and that bodies had begun floating downstream. They were the bodies of soldiers and civilians alike even though the Cike were still miles downstream from Golyn Niis. Altan orders them out of the river and to start running towards Golyn Niis...