Chapter 4

Summary

• Chapter 4 focuses on a character named Evar who is encountered by his brother Starval, the youngest and stealthiest of his brothers who is deeply influenced by a book about assassination techniques.
• Evar is terrified by Starval initially, but remembers they are brothers. He is building a staircase or ramp using books with the goal of investigating the unexplored ceiling. Starval doubts his project’s viability, but offers a word of brotherly support before leaving for his turn at the Mechanism.
• The Mechanism is a device that immerses the reader into the world of any book they choose. Many have become entrapped within the Mechanism, including Evar and their other siblings, Clovis, Mayland, and Kerrol, emerging with new skills or knowledge, based on the books they carried into it. Yet, Evar was left with the lingering sense of having important memories stripped away.
• Kerrol is another brother who has mastered the manipulation of minds. Evar keeps him at a distance as he considers Kerrol's psychological skills as potential weapons. Nevertheless, Evar appreciates the training he receives from each of his siblings in their own specialties.
• Evar is also seen training in combat with Clovis, a fiercely intense and troubled warrior who was the last of their siblings to be taken by the Mechanism. Despite their intense training sessions, Evar admits an intrinsic worry for her.
• All siblings, but especially Evar, have embarked on individual efforts to escape their enclosed chamber over the years. Evar feels a gripping fear thinking about possibly dying within the confines of the chamber.
• Evar eventually leaves the company of his siblings, with Kerrol's stealthy encouragement, to traverse the library by himself. The ancient library has been seen spitting out entities known as Escapes that manifest into various nightmare forms. He realises he himself is being stalked by an Escape and starts running while filled with fear.