It's back to Aurduin this week with chapters 16 and 17 from The Alchemist and the Eagle, "The Grand Lucidium" and "Desire." We get our first look at how the Jolao rule through theatrical cruelty and get a behind-the-scenes look at their secretive alchemical practices that keep the empire running in chapter 16, and in 17 we learn more about the fractures in the facade of the "Ruling Hand" of the Jolao and how the "Thumb" of Jao is losing influence as he embarks upon a path driven by desire.