AFTERWORD

Chapter 62

Chapter 61

Overview

After the battle, Helion brings Feysand back to camp where she reunites with Rhys and learns that Cassian has been gravely wounded. Feysand reveals to Rhys everything that happened with the Suriel and the Weaver. Cassian awakens and argues with Rhys about his reckless behavior in battle, while Feysand discovers that Nesta never told anyone she had left camp—a lie that enrages Mor.

Summary

Helion winnows Feysand directly into Rhys's war tent. Rhys holds her as she weeps, then informs her that they barely won the battle and that Cassian has been gravely injured. Feysand rushes to the healing tent where she finds a healer working to close a severe wound running from Cassian's navel to his sternum. The healer confirms he will recover. Feysand learns from Mor and Azriel that Cassian charged ahead against orders and was slashed by an enemy commander, with Azriel forced to hold his organs in place until he could be brought to the healer. Rhys confronts Feysand privately through their bond about leaving without notice, expressing panic rather than control. Feysand telepathically shows Rhys what occurred with the Suriel and the Weaver, and Rhys mentally sends for Amren and the Book to help Nesta track the Cauldron. When Cassian awakens, Rhys furiously scolds him for his recklessness, leading to an emotional exchange where Rhys admits he cannot stomach seeing any of them hurt. Outside the tent, Feysand encounters Nesta by the water buckets. Mor then reveals her true anger: Nesta never told anyone that Feysand had left camp, and Mor feels Feysand lied by omission. In Mor's tent, a heated argument erupts in which Feysand accuses Mor of lying to herself about her sexuality and her relationship with Azriel, telling Mor to stop pushing her about her choices when Mor will not examine her own. Mor orders Feysand to leave. Amren then appears with a wrapped bundle as Feysand storms through the camp.

Characters

  • FeysandThe protagonist who returns from the Middle with information about the Cauldron, reunites with Rhys, witnesses Cassian's recovery, and quarrels with Mor over trust and deception
  • RhysFeysand's mate and High Lord who holds her while she grieves, discusses the battle outcome, privately expresses panic over her disappearance, and angrily confronts Cassian about his battlefield recklessness
  • CassianA gravely injured general who charged ahead in battle against orders, received a severe chest wound, and wakes to argue with Rhys about his recklessness
  • HelionA High Lord who finds Feysand and winnows her back to camp
  • MorA warrior who fights in the battle and becomes furious with Feysand for lying about her departure, then engages in a heated argument about trust and Mor's own secrets
  • AzrielThe shadowsinger who holds Cassian's organs in place during the battle and witnesses the aftermath in the healing tent
  • The healerUses magic to close Cassian's life-threatening wound and declares he will recover
  • NestaAppears briefly by the water buckets; did not inform anyone that Feysand had left camp
  • AmrenArrives near the end carrying a wrapped bundle containing the Book to help track the Cauldron
  • TarquinMentioned as having decided the fate of survivors from the battle
  • ElainMentioned; Rhys was heading to her tent when he learned Feysand was missing
  • KeirMentioned as having taken heavy hits in the battle