The Goblin Emperor

Less than two weeks before Winternight, Maia attends a dinner at the home of the Marquess Lanthevel, a prominent member of Parliament. While there, he notices a wall hanging resembling his mother’s embroidery, piquing Lanthevel’s interest. When Maia brings up the new bridge, Lord Pashavar, also at the party, eventually agrees not to block the clocksmiths from presenting their plans to the Corazhas.

Later that night, Maia is woken by intruders. He finds his nohecherais Telimezh unconscious on the floor before he is abducted by the men. They take him to a cellar, where he finds Princess Sheveän and Lord Chancellor Chavar waiting for him. They demand he sign an abdication document relinquishing the throne to his cousin Idra, Sheveän’s son.

During the confrontation, Maia learns that his other nohecherais, Dazhis Athmaza, betrayed him. Maia refuses to sign the abdication until he speaks with Idra. The conspirators bring the boy in, but Idra refuses the throne and confronts his mother. The Untheileneise Guard then storms the room, alerted by an injured guard, and arrests the conspirators. Maia orders Idra and his sisters to move to safety in his wing of the palace. He is informed that, as an oathbreaker, Dazhis must face the revethvoran, a ritual death by suicide.