Tower of Dawn
Chapter Thirty
by Maas, Sarah J.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.
FAQs
1. Question 1
What details from the chapter reveal Nesryn’s state of mind and physical condition upon waking, and how does her experience reflect her circumstances?
Answer:
Nesryn’s state of mind and physical condition upon waking are depicted through her restless sleep, as she dozes fitfully, awakening multiple times to listen for sounds beyond her door. She is unsure of how long she has slept or the time of day, indicating disorientation or anxiety. Her physical condition is shown when she washes her face with water that isn’t icy, suggesting a need to refresh herself, though she regrets wishing for a freezing splash once she’s outside. Her regret after riding in the cold highlights her discomfort and the challenging circumstances she faces—likely related to her uncertain situation and the unfamiliar environment she’s in. Overall, her experience reflects a mix of fatigue, alertness, and adaptation to her current state.2. Question 2
How does Sartaq’s explanation of the training and upbringing of riders illustrate the cultural values of his people?
Answer:
Sartaq’s explanation emphasizes the importance of early and rigorous training, starting from a young age—children learn to ride as early as four and are trained on seasoned, docile ruks before progressing to hatchlings. The process highlights a cultural value placed on discipline, skill, and a deep connection to their animals. The comparison to the horse-clans on the steppes and their early learning of riding, weaponry, and warfare demonstrates a society that highly values mastery, independence, and combat readiness from a young age. Their training system reflects a culture that prizes discipline, strategic thinking, and the integration of riding and warfare as essential elements of their identity and military strength.3. Question 3
In what ways does Sartaq’s account of the khagan’s military strategy and use of fear reveal his society’s approach to warfare and diplomacy?
Answer:
Sartaq’s account shows that the khagan’s approach to warfare relies heavily on psychological tactics rather than just brute force. His use of fear—making brutal examples of leaders and spreading terror—encourages cities and armies to surrender without prolonged fighting. The khagan’s strategy of avoiding open combat and instead using intimidation and swift, decisive victories illustrates a pragmatic and strategic mindset that values efficiency and psychological dominance. This approach underscores their society’s emphasis on intelligence, strategic planning, and the importance of reputation and reputation management in warfare. It also reveals a culture that values diplomacy and cunning, using fear as a tool to achieve political and military objectives with minimal destruction.4. Question 4
What significance does the chapter attribute to the khagan’s “sulde,” and how does it exemplify leadership and power in his society?
Answer:
The “sulde,” specifically the Ebony and Ivory, symbolize the khagan’s authority, discipline, and strategic prowess. The fact that the khagan carries two sulde—one white for peace and one black for war—reflects a balanced approach to leadership, embodying strength and diplomacy. The chapter describes how the khagan’s use of the Ebony sulde during campaigns, combined with the threat of the Ivory, instills fear and encourages surrender, effectively consolidating power without unnecessary bloodshed. This duality emphasizes that true leadership involves both mercy and severity, and the sulde serve as physical representations of his control, reputation, and the capacity to wield power effectively in both peace and war.5. Question 5
How might the training methods and military strategies described in the chapter be applied or adapted in a contemporary context of leadership or military planning?
Answer:
The chapter’s depiction of early training, discipline, strategic deception, and psychological warfare can be applied to modern leadership and military planning by emphasizing the importance of preparation from a young age, the value of discipline, and the power of psychological operations. Early training fosters competence and confidence, while strategic use of fear and reputation can influence opponents’ decisions without direct conflict. Modern leaders can adopt these principles by cultivating skills early, using strategic communication and reputation management to achieve objectives, and balancing diplomacy with assertiveness. The emphasis on adaptability, intelligence, and psychological tactics remains relevant, demonstrating that effective leadership often combines strength, strategy, and the ability to influence perceptions.
Quotes
1. “He used fear as a weapon, just as much as he wielded his sulde.”
This quote underscores the strategic use of psychological warfare by the khagan, illustrating how intimidation and terror were integral to his military campaigns and conquests. It highlights a key element of leadership and warfare discussed in the chapter.
2. “The khagan and his armies had directly crossed the Kyzultum, befriending local nomads long sneered at by the southern kingdoms to guide them. Allowing the khagan to creep right behind them and sack their unguarded cities.”
This passage emphasizes the innovative and unexpected tactics of the khagan, showcasing his ability to exploit alliances and terrain to outmaneuver enemies—a pivotal point in understanding his military genius.
3. “Most can stand atop the horses by six, and begin learning to wield bows and spears as soon as their feet can reach the stirrups. Aside from the standing—our children have an identical process.”
This quote illustrates the deep-rooted martial culture and early training of the steppes’ people, reflecting on how their upbringing and education in riding and combat are foundational to their identity and military success.
4. “To this day, the Academy of Engineers in Balruhn remains the most prestigious in the khaganate.”
This statement highlights the value placed on engineering and innovation within the khaganate, connecting military prowess with technological advancement and strategic ingenuity.
5. “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 encapsulates the strategic, non-traditional approach to warfare employed by the khagan, emphasizing diplomacy and psychological tactics over brute force, which is a central theme in the chapter’s discussion of military strategy.