[MARIS CONFLICT] Maris has Quinn in custody and interrogates her, convincing her to bring her an external womb. Quinn starts out cagey, but is eventually overwhelmed with the pain of her treatment - Maris is using her knowledge of exorcism to cause the body to rebel against its wormy invader - and curiousity as to why a human would want such a thing. Eventually she relents and promises to bring Maris the technology; Maris secretly lets her go free.
[YVENNE BUILDER] Yvenne hands over a “Defend Your Planet - Demand Your Rights” poster to Zabad; he’s been doing the distribution, and organizing semi-secret slave rallies. He tries to gather a group of folks to start some “propaganda of the deed,” but few people show up. Just Frost. “It looks like you need help; I am your man.” Frost looks Zabad up and down, enjoying the view. Frost tries to comfort Zabad, explaining that it can be hard to raise people - and that Frost can help. Zabad enthusiastically agrees. “Well, uh, ‘bro,’ what are you thinking of going after?”
[KESTREL INTERSTITIAL] Kestrel has planned a home visit to spend time with Crow and her family. She meets Crow in the garden of the Glass Palace, now surrounded with ugly berms and earthworks against the invasion. Crow seems preoccupied with watching Raven, whose physical rehabilitation he has been helping with. Kestrel tells him that she owes him an apology for not spending enough time with Raven,and for losing her temper when they spoke last. “If he’s doing well, does that make him more worth your time now?” Kestrel says that it’s important that they support one another now. Crow: “By support, you mean you want my support, but you don’t want my opinions?” But he does seem a bit softened, a bit less on edge. Kestrel tells him that she has been taking his advice, spending more time with her daughter and spouses. Crow looks down, with just the hint of a smile. “Lycelle and I are going to be married, very soon. I would like you to be at the ceremony, but that’s your choice.” “I’ll be there, just say when.” They turn to chatting about Dove.
[MARIS INTERSTITIAL] Maris finds Meyers playing the piano late at night. She tells him the truth about how she was the one who endangered Sparrow in the first place. He hits her, repeatedly as it turns out, in between collapsing in sorrow. He asks what she wants - to assuage her guilt? She tells him, no - she wanted to talk to someone who would feel something about it, maybe even someone who would hit her over it. Then she tells him she wasn’t just saying that the music he wrote for Sparrow was beautiful. He plays her the whole piece.
[YVENNE INTERSTITAL] Earlier that day, Yvenne is working while watching Meyers with Dove. Eventually she gets up and goes over to Meyers. “Fuck, this isn’t easy for me to do.” Dove wanders away with her new angry-mommy word. Kestrel tells Meyers that she’s sorry that she hasn’t gotten to know him better, but now she realizes that they have something in common, their love and their grief. Meyers says that he doesn’t care that Yvenne doesn’t like him. “I’m here because you weren’t quite enough for this... union. But with her [Dove], I guess it doesn’t matter. But it’s been really hard.” Meyers is crying. Yvenne: “Maybe it’s too late, but I’d like to try to become a friend, if... if you still want to try to care.” She holds out her hand.
[KESTREL BUILDING] Kestrel rolls up with Maris and several assault sleds to seize Lady Venuca’s slaves. The Lady refuses. Kestrel: “It’s not your place to question my judgment.” Venuca will not relent, and Kestrel and Maris’ Sodalis storm the compound, freeing slaves.
MANEUVER: UNOPPOSED TAKE ACTION
The attack on Lady Venuca’s compound is the shot heard ‘round Avarine. Other nobles who had been waffling give in, freeing their slaves and depriving the Vaylen of divisions among the nobility. Nobles who had been turned to the Vaylen side burn across the planet. When they try to flee its surface, Yvenne’s ships cut them down. Their estates are razed and they are hauled before the Raven Brotherhood’s scanners, the Vaylen slaughtered where they stand. Meanwhile, the Vaylen fleet and the Church Hammer hang motionless and impassive in the sky, each paralyzed by indecision and confusion.
