AFTERWORD

Chapter 71

Chapter 70

Overview

The massive battle erupts as Rhysand and his allies unleash their secret weapons—three powerful immortals who devastate Hybern's forces—while Nesta, Elain, and Amren prepare to slip behind enemy lines to locate the Cauldron. Reinforcements arrive from unexpected quarters: Tamlin, Beron, Eris, Jurian, and a mortal army led by Graysen, turning the tide of battle but also revealing Hybern's ultimate weapon when the Cauldron is activated, causing catastrophic casualties among the Illyrian forces.

Summary

The chapter opens with three immortals—Bryaxis, the Bone Carver, and the Weaver (Stryga)—tearing through Hybern's army while Rhysand and Azriel deploy devastating magical blasts to split the enemy forces. The Illyrians engage from above but face faebane-tipped arrows that bypass their Siphon shields, revealing Hybern's tactical improvements. As the main armies collide, a horn sounds from the north: three armies approach—Tamlin's, Beron's, and a mortal force under Graysen. Eris arrives claiming to bring aid, revealing that Tamlin forced his father Beron into the fight. Eris's brothers systematically destroy Hybern's faebane supplies with targeted fire magic. While the armies engage, Rhys orders Feyre, Nesta, Elain, and Amren to move toward the Cauldron's location. Before they can depart, Nesta senses the Cauldron being awakened and screams a warning for Cassian. Rhysand and Azriel raise protective shields as a massive beam of white death-light erupts from Hybern's position, incinerating a thousand Illyrians mid-air. Nesta's cry saved Cassian from the blast, though she knows this with terrible certainty. Hybern fires the Cauldron again, this time into its own ranks, destroying the Bone Carver who seems to accept his fate with a smile.

Characters

  • FeyreControls the bound immortals (Carver, Bryaxis, Weaver) via mental bonds during the battle; prepares to lead her sisters toward the Cauldron
  • RhysandCommands the battle strategy, unleashes devastating power blasts, raises shields against the Cauldron's attack, communicates final orders to Feyre
  • AmrenObserves the battle from the knoll, ushers the sisters forward, helps them move toward the Cauldron
  • AzrielDeploys blue light blasts, raises protective shields against the Cauldron, monitors from above
  • NestaSenses the Cauldron's activation, screams a warning that draws Cassian away from the Cauldron blast, collapses from the connection
  • ElainTravels with Feyre and Amren toward the Cauldron; reacts to seeing Graysen's army with distress
  • BryaxisImmortal creature unleashed to slaughter Hybern's forces, creates a blur of devastation
  • Bone CarverImmortal warrior who uses bone weapons to kill Hybern soldiers; is ultimately destroyed by the Cauldron
  • Stryga (the Weaver)Immortal female who carves a path of carnage through enemy lines; creates a route for the sisters to follow
  • CassianLeads Illyrian forces in the sky; is nearly caught in the Cauldron blast but is pulled away by Nesta's warning
  • MorFights alongside Viviane on the battlefield
  • VivianeFights alongside Mor, Kallias monitoring her as promised
  • KalliasHigh Lord who releases his power in sprays of ice to blind and kill Hybern soldiers
  • HelionHigh Lord who commands front lines to hold steady
  • TarquinHigh Lord whose soldiers charge toward Hybern's forces
  • ThesanHigh Lord whose Peregryns fight and hold the lines
  • KeirCommands the Darkbringers who use shadows as tactical weapons
  • ErisArrives with reinforcements from the Spring Court, coordinates his brothers' destruction of faebane supplies, carries messages to his father Beron
  • TamlinArrives with his army and forces Beron to fight; commands troops during battle
  • BeronForced by Tamlin to lead his army into battle against Hybern
  • JurianLeads the mortal human army bearing Graysen's crest; provides tactical knowledge of Hybern's supply locations
  • GraysenLeads a mortal army under his own crest, identified as Elain's betrothed