Chapter 71 Summary – The Bath of Arowa

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Late that night, Kidan and Susenyos enter the Bath of Arowa, a stone bath adorned with turquoise and gold engravings of Black gods. Susenyos presses a hidden panel to reveal towels, soap, hair treatments, and robes. Hot water fills the basin. Kidan, too drained to undress, lets Susenyos remove her clothes—his movements are slow and purely helpful, not predatory. He turns away as she wades into the scalding water, submerging herself to clear her mind and wash away remnants of blood.

She asks him to stay, and he sits at the edge with his legs in the water. He untangles her braids, massaging her sore scalp with unexpected tenderness. Kidan confesses her confusion: why is he not angry after everything she’s done? Susenyos explains that he gave her the clue from The Mad Lovers on purpose, knowing Samson would only accept her companionship proposal if he thought Kidan was betraying Susenyos. He praises her for solving it brilliantly.

Kidan worries about Samson becoming her companion and entering Uxlay. Susenyos responds with a simple plan: they will kill Samson together—remove his heart and bury it beneath their house. This casual declaration stirs something in Kidan. She traces his arm, kisses his wrist, and pulls him into the water. She whispers a request: she wants him to drink from her neck now, not at the companionship ceremony, but here, alone. He agrees after confirming her certainty.

When Susenyos bites her, Kidan is drawn into his vision. She sees his deepest desires: restoring the ruins of Adane House, acquiring all the Last Sage artifacts, making Uxlay impenetrable, and reuniting with his court of thousands around a fire. She returns to her body feeling empty. Susenyos notes that she did not see enough hope in her own desires. He assures her she will wake her terrifying love and loyalty and find a new purpose.

Key Events

Kidan and Susenyos arrive at the Bath of Arowa.
Susenyos helps Kidan undress with care, respecting her vulnerability.
Kidan asks him to stay; he sits at the edge and washes her hair.
Susenyos reveals he orchestrated the clue to manipulate Samson.
Susenyos proposes they kill Samson together.
Kidan requests immediate blood drinking, not at the ceremony.
Susenyos bites Kidan, and she sees his ambitious visions.
Susenyos tells Kidan she doesn’t want enough but will find purpose.

Character Development

Kidan: Shows profound trust and vulnerability by allowing Susenyos to undress her and later by asking him to drink from her. She confronts her own emotional emptiness and accepts that her previous drive is gone. Her request for intimate blood drinking marks a shift from strategic alliance to genuine connection.
Susenyos: Demonstrates unexpected gentleness and patience, contradicting Kidan’s earlier perceptions. He reveals his strategic cunning in using the poem to guide Kidan. His vision clarifies his grand ambitions: restoration of Adane House, gathering artifacts, and strengthening Uxlay. He also displays insight into Kidan’s character, predicting she will channel her fierce loyalty again.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Trust and Vulnerability: Kidan’s willingness to let Susenyos see her unclothed and later drink her blood signifies a deep surrender, contrasting with the calculated companionship she plans with Samson.
Visions as Revelation: The shared blood drinking allows Kidan to see Susenyos’s true desires, while his commentary reveals her own lack of longing—highlighting her internal void.
Water as Cleansing and Rebirth: The scalding water is both physically painful and emotionally purifying, washing away dried blood and grief. The bath becomes a site of renewal.
Gentleness as a Subversive Force: Susenyos’s tender actions disarm Kidan, forcing her to reevaluate their relationship and her own defenses.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter deepens the emotional bond between Kidan and Susenyos, moving from strategic partnership to intimate trust. It clarifies Susenyos’s motivations and sets up the impending confrontation with Samson. Kidan’s acknowledgment of her lost purpose prepares the ground for her character arc toward rediscovering what drives her.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Kidan ask Susenyos to drink from her neck immediately rather than waiting for the companionship ceremony?
Answer: Kidan wants the act to be private and personal, free from the political implications of the ceremony with Samson. It reflects her growing trust and desire for a genuine connection with Susenyos, not just a tactical move.
What does Susenyos see in Kidan’s desires, and how does he interpret it?
Answer: Susenyos sees that Kidan lacks strong desire—she does not want enough. He believes this is temporary and that she will rediscover her fierce love and loyalty, which he is both jealous of and intimidated by.
How does Susenyos explain his lack of anger toward Kidan’s previous actions?
Answer: Susenyos reveals that he gave Kidan the clue from The Mad Lovers intentionally, expecting Samson to believe she was betraying Susenyos. Therefore, her actions were part of a shared strategy rather than a genuine betrayal, and he never held resentment.