Dark Age

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of gender discrimination, antigay bias, substance use, addiction, graphic violence, cursing, illness and death, physical abuse, and emotional abuse.

Virginia announces to the Republic that Darrow successfully defended Heliopolis, and she calls on the Republic to send some of its defense fleets to extract Darrow and the others still trapped on Mercury. She has already sent a missile to Mercury carrying supplies and a message saying she will come for Darrow.

Virginia and Holiday ti Nakamura, who is the “Dux” (right hand) of Virginia’s bodyguard (or Lionguard), discuss Luna (Earth’s moon) as they arrive at the capital city of Hyperion, where the two major political factions—conservative Optimates and progressive Vox—have begun fighting. Virginia tells Holiday of Silenius’s Stiletto—the “narrow path” the first Sovereign found between anarchy and tyranny.

Dancer O’Faran, a Red who became a leader of the rebellion and the founder of the Vox, calls, disagreeing with Virginia’s wish to send ships to Mercury; he also expresses concern about being assassinated. Virginia remains confident in her plan, telling Holiday, “Silenius walked his stiletto. I’ve no doubt we’ll walk ours” (159).