The Stone Sky
Chapter 6: NASSUN, WANDERING IN THE WILDERNESS
by Jemisin, N. K.The chapter opens with Schaffa leading Nassun and eight other children from Found Moon out of Jekity under the pretense of a training trip. Nassun’s recent act of returning the sapphire to the sky has alarmed the comm, prompting the headwoman to hastily provide supplies. The children depart via the “rogga steps,” a path only orogenes can traverse, with Wudeh demonstrating newfound control over his abilities. Despite the group’s subdued mood, Nassun grapples with guilt over her father’s death and the consequences her actions have brought upon the others. The twins, Oegin and Ynegen, show her understanding, but fear lingers among the children, who remember her past violence.
At a crossroads, Schaffa informs the children they must part ways, as he and Nassun will face pursuit and danger. Shirk pleads to stay, but Schaffa gently insists they are safer on their own. Wudeh’s bitter laughter underscores their grim reality—being cast out during a Season. Deshati suggests forcing their way into another comm, revealing a hardened resolve to survive. Schaffa, though momentarily reflective, approves of their determination, signaling a shift from his former self. Nassun, consumed by remorse, reflects on the loss of Found Moon’s once-wholesome community, now shattered by her choices.
Schaffa offers chilling advice to the children: if they must infiltrate a comm, they should kill one person painfully and loudly to instill fear. His calm delivery contrasts with the brutality of his words, revealing his expertise in manipulation and terror. The children, including the usually composed Lashar, are stunned, but Nassun recognizes the grim wisdom in his guidance. Schaffa’s transformation is evident as he prioritizes survival over morality, a stark departure from his past self. Nassun, meanwhile, wrestles with Steel’s prophecy that she will destroy everything she loves.
The chapter concludes with Nassun’s internal conflict, torn between her love for the Found Moon children and the violence she has unleashed upon them. Schaffa’s pragmatic cruelty highlights the harsh world they inhabit, where survival often demands brutality. The children’s fate remains uncertain, but Schaffa’s lessons have armed them with a ruthless strategy. Nassun’s grief and self-loathing deepen as she confronts the irreversible damage she has caused, setting the stage for her continued journey into darkness.
FAQs
1. What is the significance of the “rogga steps” in this chapter, and how does their use reflect the social dynamics of Jekity?
Answer:
The “rogga steps” are a series of basalt columns on Jekity’s north side that only orogenes can traverse, highlighting the segregation and prejudice against orogenes in the comm. The term “rogga” itself is a derogatory slur, emphasizing the disdain the community holds for these children. Wudeh’s steady use of orogeny to guide the group down contrasts with his visible despair, illustrating the painful duality of their existence—both empowered and ostracized. This moment underscores how orogenes are simultaneously relied upon and marginalized, forced to navigate a world that fears and exploits them.2. Analyze Schaffa’s advice to the children about how to survive after being cast out. What does his strategy reveal about his character and the world they inhabit?
Answer:
Schaffa instructs the children to kill one person painfully and loudly to instill fear, demonstrating his pragmatic yet brutal approach to survival. This advice reveals his deep understanding of human psychology and power dynamics—terror can secure safety in a hostile world. His gentleness while delivering these harsh instructions adds complexity, showing a caregiver who prioritizes survival over morality. The tactic also reflects the grim reality of the Stillness, where violence is often the only language respected. Schaffa’s evolution from a Guardian who might have restrained such actions to one who encourages them marks his acceptance of necessary cruelty.3. How does Nassun’s internal conflict manifest in this chapter, particularly regarding her actions and their consequences?
Answer:
Nassun grapples with guilt over killing her father and uprooting the other children’s lives, oscillating between self-justification (“Daddy, I miss you”) and remorse (“It’s cruel that they must suffer… because of what I have done”). She recognizes her capacity for violence (“Nassun is [a killer]”) but resists this identity, as seen in her silent grief for the lost innocence of Found Moon. Her awareness of the twins’ understanding versus the others’ fear highlights her isolation. Steel’s prophecy—”You’ll kill everything you love”—haunts her, forcing her to confront the destructive path she’s on.4. Compare the reactions of the children to their expulsion from Jekity. How do their responses reflect their individual personalities and coping mechanisms?
Answer:
Shirk’s desperate pleading reveals her vulnerability and dependence on Schaffa, while Lashar’s haughty dismissal (“Have some rusting pride”) masks fear with arrogance, clinging to her Sanzed heritage. Wudeh’s bitter laughter and Deshati’s cold determination (“kill only one”) showcase divergent survival strategies—one resigned, the other ruthlessly pragmatic. Oegin and Ynegen’s silent understanding contrasts with Peek’s quiet empathy, illustrating how trauma manifests differently. These reactions collectively paint a portrait of children forced to mature rapidly, their personalities shaping how they face abandonment.5. Why does Schaffa lie to the headwoman about the purpose of their departure, and what does this deception suggest about the broader societal attitudes toward orogenes?
Answer:
Schaffa claims the group is leaving for a “training trip” to avoid suspicion, exploiting the headwoman’s fear after Nassun’s sapphire display. This lie underscores the comm’s willingness to believe convenient falsehoods about orogenes rather than confront their power. The headwoman’s hurried compliance—providing subpar supplies—reveals her eagerness to be rid of them, reflecting society’s transactional tolerance: orogenes are accepted only when useful. The deception also foreshadows the inevitable backlash when Jekity discovers the Guardians’ deaths, emphasizing how trust in orogenes is always conditional and fragile.
Quotes
1. “They are not killers at heart, after all … and Nassun is. (She does not want to be, any more than you do.)”
This quote captures Nassun’s internal conflict and the tragic self-awareness of her capacity for violence. It highlights the chapter’s theme of forced transformation and the loss of innocence, as Nassun contrasts with the other children who fear her despite their shared orogene nature.
2. “You’ll kill everything you love, eventually, Steel has told her. She hates that he is right.”
A pivotal moment of foreshadowing and character insight, this quote reflects Nassun’s growing realization of her destructive potential. It underscores the chapter’s exploration of cyclical violence and the inevitability of loss in her journey.
3. “Kill only one, initially. Pick someone who tries to harm you—but only one, even if more than one tries. […] Make sure your target screams. That’s important.”
Schaffa’s chilling advice to the children represents the chapter’s dark turning point into survival pragmatism. This quote exemplifies the brutal worldview they must adopt in a hostile world, contrasting sharply with Found Moon’s former sanctuary-like atmosphere.
4. “There was beauty in Found Moon; among her fellow children, Nassun has known the delight of reveling in what she is and what she can do, among people who understand and share that delight. Now something once wholesome and good is dead.”
This lament encapsulates the chapter’s core tragedy—the irreversible loss of community and innocence. The quote poignantly frames Nassun’s journey as a fall from grace, marking the end of her sheltered existence and the beginning of a hardened path.