The Gilded Ones

The Elders release Deka to White Hands because she is an emissary of the emperor. White Hands travels with horse lords, or equus (half-human/half-horse creatures with talons), named Braima and Masaima. Deka is able to befriend them with the help of apples that Elder Durkas donates. There is a friendly Northern farm girl named Britta in White Hands’s wagon who reminds Deka of Elfriede. Deka is free of her chains and listens to Britta ramble, almost fainting after the trauma she has endured in the cellar.

As a distraction, they talk about White Hands, who has not revealed her real name (she turns out to be Fatu, an ancient royal) and discuss what they are. Alaki are supposedly the descendants of female demons called the Gilded Ones. Later it is revealed that the Gilded Ones are in fact goddesses, but the girls have been taught a warped history. Deka has questions about her mom’s death (which was actually staged) because there was no gold blood, so her lineage isn’t clear.

After an uncomfortable week of travel in winter weather, Deka won’t let Britta—who is clumsy and bubbly—touch her yet. Deka discovers her unnatural strength when she rips up furs during nightmares.