Chapter 3 Summary: Nikolai Lantsov
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Chapter 3: Nikolai — Nikolai, Zoya, Tolya, and Tamar investigate a mysterious blight, confront a mob threatening a Suli camp, and receive word that Fjerda is marching to war.
Summary
At dawn, Nikolai, Zoya, Tolya, and Tamar ride to the town of Yaryenosh to investigate a blight that has left the countryside dead and ashy. The blight stretches for miles, and the group quickly realizes it is far larger than the earlier incident near Balakirev. Nikolai’s horse, Punchline, is nervous, and the others’ mounts are restless too. The group debates whether the blight is a pattern or a coincidence, with Zoya suspecting the Darkling’s influence even though the Darkling is imprisoned in a sun cell.
As they approach the town, they see smoke and riders. A mob of townspeople, armed with rifles, is confronting a Suli encampment. The Suli have arranged their wagons defensively, and no children are visible. Nikolai and his companions charge down the hill. Tolya drives his warhorse between the two groups and orders the mob to stand down in the king’s name. Nikolai then addresses the crowd, trying to defuse the situation. Governor Mirov, a self-made man with ambitions, accuses the Suli of causing the blight, pointing out that the Suli camp was untouched. A butcher calls Nikolai a bastard, and Zoya summons thunder, but Nikolai holds her back. He turns the crowd’s anger toward Fjerda, suggesting that the Fjerdans are spreading lies about his parentage to turn Ravkans against their own king. He claims the blight is a natural phenomenon being studied by his Materialki, though he knows this is a lie. Zoya adds a sharp rebuke, asking who answers for droughts and earthquakes, and shames the townspeople into backing down.
While Nikolai speaks, a Suli woman stares at Zoya and says something in Suli. Zoya ignores her. Nikolai later asks the woman what she said, but she only repeats that her words were for the general, not for him. She calls him “Korol Rezni” (King of Scars), which stirs the demon inside him.
Nikolai advises the Suli to move on for their own safety, offering to arrange land with Countess Gretsina by threatening to withhold new threshers if she refuses. The Suli leader reluctantly agrees. Nikolai and Tamar interview Suli witnesses about the blight. They learn that a shadow rolls over the land, dissolving everything it touches—livestock, property, and people—into smoke, leaving barren earth. Pilgrims of the Starless One have claimed the blight is punishment for a faithless king, but the townspeople chased them away, remembering the Darkling’s destruction of Novokribirsk.
The group reconvenes and concludes that the Fold is expanding. Nikolai admits that they caused it—the earthquakes, the deaths of the Saints, and his failed obisbaya attempt have all contributed. Zoya suggests killing the Darkling, while Tolya proposes attempting the obisbaya again. Nikolai is reluctant but agrees to consider it after the wedding. Zoya reminds him that Princess Ehri must be charmed before Queen Makhi arrives in less than a month. Nikolai admits he has been avoiding Ehri since the night Isaak died and the assassin was revealed. He notes that Ehri is softening but stubborn.
A messenger arrives with a flyer from Nina Zenik (code name “Termite”) warning that Fjerda is on the march. Nikolai orders preparations for war: readying flyers, contacting David and the Fabrikators, and sending word to allies in the west. He tells Zoya to handle Hiram Schenck in Os Kervo. The group acknowledges they are not fully ready, but Tamar says they will “give them hell anyway.” Nikolai reflects that war is like fire—sudden and hungry—and that some part of him is itching for a fight.
Key Events
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Nikolai and his companions investigate the blight at Yaryenosh and find a mob confronting a Suli camp.
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Nikolai uses rhetoric to turn the crowd against Fjerda, defusing the immediate threat.
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Zoya privately speaks with Governor Mirov, but Nikolai realizes she is avoiding the Suli woman who addressed her.
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The Suli woman calls Nikolai “Korol Rezni,” stirring the demon within him.
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Nikolai advises the Suli to move on and offers to arrange land with Countess Gretsina via blackmail.
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Interviews with Suli witnesses reveal the blight is a shadow that dissolves everything it touches.
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The group concludes the Fold is expanding and that they are responsible.
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Zoya and Tolya debate killing the Darkling versus attempting the obisbaya again.
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Nikolai admits he has been avoiding Princess Ehri, and Zoya insists he must charm her before Queen Makhi arrives.
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A message from Nina Zenik arrives, warning that Fjerda is on the march.
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Nikolai orders preparations for war, including readying flyers and contacting allies.
Character Development
Nikolai shows his dual nature as a king and a privateer. He uses charm, lies, and blackmail to protect his people, but he also carries guilt over the blight and the demon inside him. His self-doubt surfaces when he admits he hasn’t worked hard enough to secure Suli safety. The demon stirs at the name “Korol Rezni,” reminding him of his internal struggle.
Zoya is emotionally withdrawn since losing Juris and the battle on the Fold. She deflects the Suli woman’s words, claims not to understand Suli, and avoids confrontation. Her sharpness remains, but Nikolai notices she has stepped away from everyone. Her suggestion to kill the Darkling is blunt, and she snaps at Tolya’s obisbaya idea, showing her protectiveness of Nikolai.
Tolya and Tamar serve as loyal advisors and warriors. Tolya’s physical presence and calm reasoning contrast with Tamar’s pragmatism. Tamar’s line about giving the Fjerdans “hell” underscores their readiness for battle.
Governor Mirov is ambitious and eager to prove himself, making him susceptible to flattery and fear. His initial accusation of the Suli reveals the prejudice that Nikolai must counter.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Superstition vs. reason: The townspeople blame the Suli for the blight, while Zoya appeals to Ravkan practicality. Nikolai dismisses the blight as a natural phenomenon, though he knows it is magical. The tension between fear and logic drives the chapter.
Mob mentality: The armed crowd is easily swayed by Nikolai’s rhetoric, but also by fear. The Suli are scapegoats, and the mob’s willingness to turn on them reflects broader societal prejudice.
Leadership responsibility: Nikolai feels the weight of his failures—he hasn’t protected the Suli, and he caused the Fold’s expansion. His use of blackmail and lies shows the moral compromises of kingship.
War as fire: Nikolai’s metaphor that war is like fire—sudden, hungry, and easiest to stop before it takes hold—frames the coming conflict as a blaze he must contain.
The demon within: The name “Korol Rezni” stirs the demon, symbolizing Nikolai’s internal battle between his human will and the monstrous power he carries.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter sets the stage for the novel’s central conflicts: the expanding Fold, the threat of Fjerda, and Nikolai’s personal struggles. It establishes the blight as a direct consequence of the events in King of Scars, linking the past to the present. The chapter also deepens Zoya’s character, hinting at secrets she is hiding, and reinforces the political stakes of Nikolai’s marriage to Princess Ehri. The arrival of Nina’s message shifts the narrative from investigation to imminent war, raising the tension for the chapters ahead.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Nikolai lie to the townspeople about the blight being a natural phenomenon?
Nikolai lies to prevent panic and to keep the mob from attacking the Suli. He knows the blight is magical and connected to the Fold, but admitting that would fuel superstition and fear. By framing it as a scientific problem, he hopes to buy time and maintain order.
2. What does Zoya’s reaction to the Suli woman reveal about her state of mind?
Zoya’s avoidance of the Suli woman and her claim not to understand Suli suggest she is hiding something. Nikolai and Tamar both notice her discomfort, indicating that Zoya is emotionally guarded since the events on the Fold. Her withdrawal is a key character beat, hinting at unresolved trauma or secrets.
3. How does Nikolai’s use of blackmail with Countess Gretsina reflect his leadership style?
Nikolai uses leverage—threatening to withhold threshers—to secure land for the Suli. This shows his pragmatic, sometimes ruthless approach to ruling. He acknowledges that kings must sometimes use more than prayer, blending idealism with realpolitik.