Chapter Twenty

The Night Court leadership convenes to discuss a dire threat: Queen Briallyn, allied with the ancient death-lord Koschei, seeks the Dread Trove—three objects of immense power Made by the Cauldron—to locate the Cauldron itself and launch a devastating war with High Lord Beron's support. Azriel reports his findings from spying on Briallyn, while Amren reveals that Nesta, Elain, and Briallyn, being Made themselves, may be able to perceive the Trove where others cannot. Elain arrives unexpectedly at the meeting's end, volunteering to help track it down.

Nesta arrives at the River House for a meeting, deeply anxious about facing her family after her recent fight with Elain. In the study, she encounters Rhys, Feyre, Azriel, Amren, and Cassian. Azriel reports that Briallyn has allied with the death-lord Koschei, who is imprisoned at his lake but influences her through whispers on the wind. Rather than being Briallyn's puppet, she willingly works with him toward his ends. Koschei directed Briallyn to seek the Dread Trove—three objects of terrible power Made by the Cauldron: the Mask (which raises the dead), the Harp (which opens any door, including between worlds), and the Crown (which can control minds, even piercing strong shields, though it requires close proximity). By gathering all three, Briallyn could track the Cauldron's location and free Koschei from his lake. Beron has pledged his forces to Briallyn's cause, positioning himself to expand territory after the ensuing war. Azriel confirms the Trove has not yet been found, though it is rumored to be in Prythian. Amren explains that Made objects possess sentience and a glamour that hides them from ordinary perception. However, when Briallyn was Made, the Trove's concealment likely fell away from her, allowing her to perceive it. Amren then reveals that Nesta and Elain, also being Made, share this ability to perceive what others cannot. Cassian will meet with Eris to confirm whether Beron knows of the Trove and to determine why Koschei and Briallyn took some of Eris's soldiers. The group debates whether to warn other courts, ultimately deciding against it to prevent them from hunting the Trove themselves. As the meeting concludes, Elain appears silently in the doorway and volunteers to help track down the Dread Trove.