Chapter Seven

Cassian travels to the manor of the Band of Exiles to gather intelligence, where he discovers that Eris's soldiers have vanished and suspicion falls on Briallyn, one of the human queens. Through conversation with Vassa, Lucien, and Jurian, a far larger threat emerges: Koschei, an ancient death-lord imprisoned at a lake, may be manipulating Briallyn and has allied with Beron, Eris's father. Eris corners Cassian afterward and blackmails him into an alliance, threatening to expose Nesta's importance to the Night Court if Cassian refuses to work with him.

Mor winnows Cassian to the manor house in the human lands after sunset, where he finds Lucien, Vassa, and Jurian already gathered—and Eris present as well. Cassian struggles to maintain composure at the sight of Eris, the male responsible for Mor's torture and near-death. Eris explains that a unit of his soldiers vanished days ago without trace, and even his prized magical hounds lost the scent. Vassa, Jurian, and Lucien suspect involvement from the human queens across the sea, particularly Briallyn, the crone-like queen made immortal by the Cauldron. The conversation reveals that the human queens can winnow collectively, similar to how the seven High Lords combine powers. Cassian's emotional control fractures when Vassa identifies Briallyn as the likely culprit and mentions Koschei, the sorcerer holding Vassa captive. Vassa reveals that Koschei is the Bone Carver's older brother, an ancient death-lord imprisoned by spell, and a being some believe is Death itself. He is confined to a lake and seeks freedom. After Cassian leaves the house, Eris follows him outside and reveals that Beron, his own father, met with Briallyn a month ago and has pledged the Autumn Court's forces to her cause. Eris's soldiers who accompanied Beron returned altered and then vanished—the same unit missing. Eris coerces Cassian into an alliance by threatening to tell other territories that Nesta is valuable to the Night Court, which would make her a target for Briallyn and Koschei. Eris demands Cassian send the shadowsinger to track Briallyn and report back to him. Cassian, enraged at being manipulated and at his earlier emotional display, agrees under duress.