Tower of Dawn
Chapter Thirty
by Maas, Sarah J.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.
FAQs
1. What are the key differences between how novice and experienced ruk riders train, according to Sartaq?
Answer:
Novice riders begin training at age four on older, more docile ruks that are past their prime for long flights. These seasoned birds serve as training mounts until riders reach 13-14 years old, when they then select and raise their own hatchling to bond with. Sartaq mentions this process is similar to the horse-clans’ training methods, where children learn to stand atop horses by age six. In contrast, experienced riders like Sartaq have fully bonded with their ruks (he raised Kadara from a hatchling) and undertake more dangerous flights through mountain ranges like the Dorgos peaks.2. How does Sartaq describe the khagan’s military strategy that allowed him to conquer the southern territories?
Answer:
The khagan employed unconventional tactics by crossing the feared Kyzultum Desert with help from local nomads—groups previously dismissed by southern kingdoms. This surprise approach let him bypass enemy armies waiting along traditional routes. Rather than engaging in open combat, he made brutal examples of key leaders to spread terror, then offered generous surrender terms. His strategic use of the Ebony sulde (a war standard) became a psychological weapon; its reputation alone sometimes prompted surrenders. Sartaq emphasizes how the khagan’s mobility, engineering skills, and psychological warfare tactics overcame larger forces.3. Analyze how Nesryn’s cultural background influences her reaction to the rukhin training methods.
Answer:
Nesryn’s urban upbringing (implied by her shock at children riding at age four) contrasts sharply with the rukhin’s warrior culture. She struggles to reconcile the danger of the training runs with childhood development, mentally comparing it to her nieces/nephews who “run naked and shrieking” at bath time. Her perspective highlights the cultural divide: where Sartaq sees normal discipline, she sees recklessness. Yet her curiosity about the sulde traditions shows openness to learning. This tension underscores the chapter’s theme of cultural exchange between Nesryn’s more sheltered background and the harsh, nomadic values of the khaganate.4. What symbolic and practical roles do the Ebony and Ivory sulde play in the khaganate’s traditions?
Answer:
The sulde are sacred standards with deep cultural significance. The Ebony sulde, bearing black horsehair, symbolizes war and intimidation—used on campaigns to psychologically dominate enemies, as seen when its mere presence spurred surrenders. The Ivory sulde (white horsehair) represents peace, likely used in diplomacy or ceremonies. Practically, they serve as rallying points in battle and markers of the khagan’s authority. Sartaq’s pride in describing them underscores their enduring importance; even his father still carries both, maintaining this tradition that blends military strategy with cultural identity.5. How does the chapter use sensory details to convey the experience of flying with Kadara?
Answer:
Vivid sensory descriptions immerse readers in the ruk flight: the “freezing air slamming into [Nesryn’s] face” emphasizes the brutal cold at high altitudes, while Kadara’s salmon hunt—snatching fish midair with “slicing bite[s]“—highlights the ruk’s predatory grace. The contrast between the warm interior chamber and the “biting wind” outside reinforces the harshness of the environment. Visual details like “turquoise river” and “snowcapped peaks” paint the landscape, while tactile moments (Nesryn settling into Sartaq’s back) add intimacy. Together, these details ground the fantastical flight in tangible, physical sensations.
Quotes
1. ““We take our first rides at four. Or the others do. I was, as you know, a few years late.””
This quote highlights the rigorous training culture of the rukhin riders, emphasizing how their skills are cultivated from extreme youth. It also subtly reveals Prince Sartaq’s outsider status among his people, having joined their ranks later than usual.
2. ““Those kingdoms also didn’t anticipate an army that conquered from behind, by taking routes that few would risk.””
This statement captures the strategic brilliance of the khagan’s military campaigns, showcasing how unconventional thinking led to their conquests. It represents a key historical insight into how the khaganate established its dominance.
3. ““He avoided outright combat whenever he could, actually. Made a brutal example of a few key leaders, so that terror would spread, and by the time he reached many of those cities or armies, most laid down their arms and accepted his terms of surrender in exchange for protection.””
This quote reveals the psychological warfare tactics employed by the khagan, demonstrating how strategic use of fear could be more effective than direct combat. It’s a powerful commentary on leadership and conquest strategies in this world.
4. ““The Ebony and the Ivory, we call them. A sulde with white horsehair to carry in times of peace and one with black horsehair to wield in war.””
This passage introduces the important cultural symbols of the khaganate, representing the dual nature of leadership - both peaceful and warlike. The symbolism of these standards carries deep significance in their society.