The Gilded Ones

The next morning, Deka rides out with the emperor. He is outfitted in infernal armor—her blood, Deka realizes. Keita asks if Deka is ok and presses her until she says she’s worried about Britta. They are attacked by a fireball followed by arrows and shrieks (that harm the non-jatu and non-alaki soldiers). When the armies meet for close combat, deathshrieks use swords and maces.

The emperor orders Deka to use her commanding voice on the deathshrieks, but one leaper with bright red spikes begs Deka to stop. It is Katya, her signature red hair transformed into the spikes, but initially Deka does not believe Katya. Continuing to beg, Katya says the emperor knows that alaki transform into deathshrieks after their final death and is trying to eliminate both. Keita tries to intervene but has trouble accepting the leaper is Katya. Jatu approach.

Deka, once convinced, orders the deathshrieks to protect Katya from the jatu, and the emperor orders that Deka be killed. Jatu then grab Deka, and she orders Ixa to help Katya before they gag her. When the jatu remove her helmet, everyone sees her deathshriek-like face. Alaki stand up for her against the men, but Captain Kelechi comes over to kill her.