Nesryn awakens in the Hall of Altun, disoriented by the time and anxious about oversleeping in front of the rukhin, who might mock Prince Sartaq for his courtly habits. After a restless night, she notices movement outside her door and prepares for the day, washing her face with lukewarm water. She joins Sartaq, who is already saddling his ruk, Kadara, in the empty great hall. They take flight into the freezing dawn, joining other ruks hunting for breakfast. Kadara catches salmon from a river before Sartaq guides them toward a training area for novice riders, where the terrain is less treacherous but still daunting.

Sartaq explains the rigorous training regimen of the rukhin, revealing that children as young as four begin learning to ride on seasoned ruks, with family members accompanying them initially. By their teens, they raise their own hatchlings. Nesryn is stunned by the early age and the perilous nature of the training, struggling to imagine children navigating such dangers. Sartaq compares their methods to the horse-clans of the steppes, where children master riding and weaponry early, a tradition that contributed to the khaganate’s military dominance. He highlights the ingenuity of their ancestors, who traveled light and relied on engineers to craft weapons from local materials.

The prince recounts the strategic brilliance of the first khagan, who crossed the Kyzultum Desert with nomad guides, surprising enemies by attacking from behind. Instead of open warfare, the khagan used fear and selective brutality to force surrenders, rewarding compliance and ensuring his reputation preceded him. Sartaq’s pride in this history is evident as he describes the khagan’s dual *sulde*—Ebony for war and Ivory for peace—and how the Ebony’s presence alone often deterred resistance. Nesryn, fascinated, listens intently, drawn deeper into the culture and history of Sartaq’s people.

As they soar above the mountains, Sartaq’s storytelling weaves a vivid tapestry of conquest and cunning, contrasting the khagan’s methods with the brute force of other rulers like Adarlan’s king. Nesryn’s curiosity grows, and she relaxes into the flight, her earlier tension replaced by a sense of connection to both Sartaq and the legacy he embodies. The chapter closes with a lingering sense of awe at the khaganate’s storied past and the unspoken bond forming between the two characters amid the vast, windswept peaks.

In this chapter, Nesryn awakens in the Hall of Altun, uncertain of how long she has slept or the time of day. She spends a restless morning listening for signs of activity beyond her door, eventually noticing shadows indicating someone is awake in the hall. After dressing and a brief wash, she joins Sartaq, who is already saddling Kadara, and they head out into the early dawn. The scene sets a tone of quiet anticipation, emphasizing Nesryn’s discomfort and curiosity about her surroundings and the people she is now with, highlighting her transition into a new environment filled with unfamiliar customs and expectations.

The narrative then shifts to their journey through the mountains, where Sartaq demonstrates the skills of riding and training ruks, the winged creatures crucial to their culture. Sartaq explains the traditional age for starting to ride, the process of raising hatchlings, and the discipline involved in learning to ride from a young age. Nesryn reflects on her own life, finding it hard to imagine children as young as four undertaking such responsibilities. The discussion provides insight into the nomadic, warrior-based culture of the steppes, emphasizing their deep-rooted traditions of horsemanship and combat training that date back to their history of conquest and expansion.

Sartaq elaborates on the military prowess of their people, describing how their ancestors used swift, strategic cavalry tactics to conquer neighboring regions. He recounts stories of their ancestors crossing natural barriers like the Kyzultum Desert and employing unconventional strategies to outmaneuver larger armies. The narrative underscores their history of innovation, adaptability, and strategic brilliance, which allowed them to dominate vast territories. Sartaq’s pride in his heritage and the achievements of his ancestors reflects the importance of military skill and ingenuity in their culture, shaping their identity and reputation.

The chapter concludes with a discussion of the tactics of the khagan, emphasizing his use of fear and psychological warfare to subdue enemies without prolonged combat. Sartaq explains how the khagan’s use of his legendary sulde weapons—one for peace and one for war—symbolizes their strategic approach. The story highlights the importance of reputation, diplomacy, and psychological dominance in maintaining power. Sartaq’s recounting of these military stories provides a broader context for understanding the culture’s emphasis on strength, strategy, and the legacy of their ancestors, framing their history as one of resilience and cunning.