Gild

Beyond the city, a horrible stench fills the air, and Auren sees a dozen bodies hung on the wall around the city’s borders. The rotting bodies are bloated and falling apart. Sail explains that King Ravinger has been sending these bodies for a week. Though only Fifth Kingdom’s army has officially attacked him, Ravinger clearly knows that Midas orchestrated the incident because he has been sending mutilated soldiers to both the Fourth and Fifth Kingdoms as a grisly message.

Digby orders his men to untie the bodies and bury them in large snow drifts. Later, Digby stoically orders Auren to stay in the carriage next time to avoid being seen by people. Auren is surprised when he says no more than that; she had expected a long, stern lecture. Meanwhile, Sail tells her that he appreciates what she did. He respects the fact that she cared enough to really see and help those children. They stop to make camp for the night. Auren does not know what she is doing or what will happen when she reaches Midas in Fifth Kingdom, but for now, she is simply happy to be outside in the open air.

For seven days, the caravan rides through the icy mountains. Auren often leaves her carriage to ride a horse despite Digby’s objections, and she and Sail become friends. Auren realizes that in addition to her desire to be outside and experience new things, she has been desperate for “this connection with another person. Not an alliance for similar goals, not anything driven by politics or society or even lust. But a simple friendship” (196). As they ride, Sail predicts that a storm is coming. Meanwhile, the other saddles, particularly one named Polly, make cruel comments about Auren and her role as the king’s useless trophy. Stung and trying not to cry, Auren urges her horse away from the carriages.

Sail catches up with Auren and comforts her with friendly banter. That night, the storm that Sail predicted blows in, forcing Auren to retreat to her carriage for safety. Eventually, the carriages become stuck in the ice and snow, and the caravan stops to make camp. Auren offers to help set up the tents, but the guards refuse, reminding her that they are there to serve her, not the other way around.

The storm rages for three days and nights, keeping the caravan stuck in the same place. Everyone grows increasingly miserable. On the fourth day, the storm breaks, and they begin to move again. However, Digby insists that Auren stay in the carriage, and she does so. She dozes off and wakes when the caravan suddenly stops in the dark. She climbs out to find Sail and learn what has happened.

Auren and Sail find the rest of the guards standing atop a hill. As they pass the saddles’ carriage, Rissa leans out to ask Auren to keep them informed on the situation. Startled that Rissa is speaking to her, Auren agrees.

Auren and Sail keep walking, and Sail teases Auren about the time she hit Rissa in the face with a book. Auren, who did not realize that this event was public knowledge among the guards, looks away in embarrassment. They reach the top of the hill, where Digby tells them that the guards have spotted signs of shifting snow that may indicate an imminent avalanche. He sent a scout ahead, but the man has not yet returned.

The guards are uneasy and concerned. Digby decides to take several other guards and scout ahead himself. He orders the rest to stay with the carriages and specifically orders Sail to keep Auren safe at any cost. Auren becomes nervous when Digby leaves. Ever since he saved her from King Fulke, she has increasingly relied on his stoic presence to give her peace of mind.

Auren and Sail return to the carriages. As they approach, they hear a sound that resembles thunder and then spot pinpricks of light in the distance. As the lights spread out and come toward them, a guard yells that it is an avalanche, but Sail realizes that they are being attacked by snow pirates. Everyone panics. Auren has heard of snow pirates; they are a group of bandits who wear white coats and red balaclavas over their faces and call themselves the Red Raids. They have been known to steal merchant shipments but do not usually attack small caravans.

With Auren in her carriage and the saddles in theirs, the guards rush them all into motion. Sail calls out for the guards to protect the king’s favored above all else, filling Auren with guilt. They run, heading for a mountain pass as the pirates chase them. Auren rattles around in the carriage, which suddenly slides down a slope and flips off a small cliff. The carriage crashes upside down, and Auren suffers a blow to the head and loses consciousness.

Auren wakes. Her prehensile ribbons helped her to brace, saving her from serious injury. She crawls out and stands atop the broken carriage. The horses are dead, and she can hear the guards fighting with their attackers in the dark. Suddenly, a pirate grabs her and drags her down. Another pirate approaches, holding Sail as he struggles and yells for them to leave Auren alone. The pirates pull down Auren’s hood and see her gold skin, but they assume that she is wearing paint and do not realize who she is. As the pirates drag Auren and Sail through the snow, Sail apologizes for failing her, and she assures him that their circumstances are not his fault.