Chapter 23: Chapter Nineteen – Twenty Years Ago

Spoiler Warning: This page reveals major plot points from Chapter 23 of Bad Bishop. If you haven't read up to this point, proceed with caution.

Summary (Complete & Chronological)

Twenty years before the main story, Tiernan, his twin sister Tierney, and Alex (Lyosha) are children in Igor’s Siberian labour camp. Alex, the pakhan’s privileged son, tempts the twins to abandon their wood-chopping duties and play a game with bullet cases. Tiernan warns Tierney to resist, but her longing for a moment of childhood sways him. They steal away into the forest while Olga, the overseer, prepares lunch. After a brief game, the trio races back only to collide with Igor, who has discovered their absence.

Igor, holding a gun, declares that the twins must be executed for breaking camp rules. Alex throws himself at his father, insisting he instigated the game and offering to take the punishment. Igor orders a twisted “Russian roulette” test: Alex must place three bullets in the revolver and shoot his friends. Alex fires at Tierney first. The chamber clicks empty. He then turns the gun on Tiernan. Tiernan stares back without flinching. Again, the hammer falls on an empty chamber. Alex collapses in shock. Igor, infuriated, mutters the name “Koshchei,” calling the boy deathless and predicting that Tiernan will one day destroy them all.

Key Events

Alex approaches Tiernan and Tierney while they chop logs, inviting them to play with bullet cases.
Tiernan initially refuses, but Tierney’s sadness over their harsh existence makes him relent.
The three children run into the forest, leaving their work unattended during Olga’s thirty‑minute supervision break.
They play briefly on a stump, lose track of time, and sprint back to camp.
Igor intercepts them at the dining hall door, gun in hand.
Alex admits fault and demands to share their fate, leading Igor to propose Russian roulette.
Alex loads three bullets, shoots at Tierney (empty), then at Tiernan (empty).
Tiernan remains utterly composed; Igor labels him “Koshchei” (deathless) and remarks that the boy will kill them all.

Character Development

Tiernan: Even as an eight‑year‑old, he exhibits the unyielding calm that defines him as an adult. He doesn’t flinch when a loaded gun is aimed at his head, reinforcing the “deathless” aura Igor later names.
Tierney: Her desire to feel alive — to play, to be loved beyond her brother — cracks the careful discipline Tiernan enforces. Her vulnerability highlights the emotional toll of their captivity.
Alex (Lyosha): Despite his privileged position, Alex defies his father and risks his own life to protect the twins. His genuine love for Tiernan and his willingness to suffer alongside them set him apart from Igor’s other sons.
Igor: The cold pragmatism of a pakhan is on full display. He sees the Callaghan twins as tools and enemies, and he considers Alex’s compassion a weakness. His frustration that Tiernan keeps surviving foreshadows deeper conflict.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs Actually Evidenced Here

Deathlessness: The chapter explicitly introduces “Koshchei,” the Russian folklore figure who cannot die, as Igor’s label for Tiernan. The repeated survival of seemingly fatal situations becomes a core motif.
Rules vs. Humanity: The camp’s lethal rules clash with the human need for play and connection. Alex urges them to “live a little,” and Tiernan’s temporary surrender to his sister’s yearning triggers the crisis.
Sibling Loyalty: Tiernan’s decision to spare Tierney a moment of joy, Tierney’s tearful confession of unlived life, and Alex’s sacrifice all underscore the fierce loyalty that binds these characters.
The Price of Freedom: A thirty‑minute indulgence almost costs three lives. The chapter illustrates how even a taste of freedom is brutally policed in Igor’s world.

Why This Chapter Matters

This flashback does more than reveal the brutal origin of the Callaghan twins; it cements the mythology around Tiernan’s “deathless” nature and plants the seeds of Alex’s conflicted loyalty. By showing Igor’s attempt to break Alex’s bond with the twins, the chapter explains why Alex remains a wildcard in the present‑day narrative. It also deepens our understanding of Tiernan’s unshakeable composure — it isn’t bravado but a survival instinct ingrained since childhood. The “Koshchei” reference will echo forward, reminding readers that Tiernan’s resilience is both a weapon and a curse.

Study Questions & Answers

Why does Igor choose Russian roulette instead of simply executing the twins?
Igor wants to make Alex complicit in the punishment, testing his son’s loyalty and attempting to shatter his attachment to the Callaghans. Forcing Alex to pull the trigger turns the execution into a psychological ordeal for all three children.
What does Tierney’s tearful plea (“I have never played a game… never been loved”) reveal about her character and the camp’s effect on its prisoners?
It exposes the total deprivation of normal childhood — not just physical suffering but a starvation of joy and affection. Tierney’s words illustrate how captivity robs the children of their humanity, making even a stolen game worth the risk of death.
How does the nickname “Koshchei” foreshadow Tiernan’s role later in the series?
Koshchei the Deathless is a villain in Slavic folklore who hides his soul inside an object, making him nearly impossible to kill. Igor’s comparison suggests Tiernan possesses an almost supernatural ability to endure. This sets up the expectation that Tiernan will be a resilient, perhaps feared, figure who outlasts his enemies.