15. He Is Ahead of You!

The boy, his mother, his grandfather, and Severian sit for dinner. The woman, Casdoe, becomes increasingly worried about Becan, who has yet to return home.  Armed with an iron rod, she leaves the house to search for him.

Severian shows the boy Severian Terminus Est.  The child indicates that a girl visited his home overnight.  Severian construes the comment as a reference to Severa and instructs the boy to retrieve his sister from the loft.  Little Severian climbs a ladder into the attic.

Sitting by the fireside, the old man tells Severian a story about his boyhood friend, a renowned artist.  Severian hears footsteps above them.  A woman descends into the room and Severian recognizes her as Agia. 

Agia admits that she has pursued Severian from Nessus with the aim of killing him.  Severian accuses Agia and Hethor of being in league against him.  Agia acknowledges their alliance and cautions that Hethor and the extraterrestrial creatures at his command are lying in wait for Severian.