AFTERWORD

Chapter 72

Chapter 71

Overview

As the Cauldron strikes again with devastating force, killing the Carver and decimating the Illyrian forces, Rhysand and Feyre realize they cannot win against both Hybern's ground army and an incoming naval armada. Just as defeat seems certain, massive reinforcements arrive: Drakon's Seraphim legion from the shielded island of Cretea, accompanied by a vast human fleet led by an unexpected commander—Feyre's father, who has been gathering independent human forces against Hybern and the traitorous human queens.

Summary

After the Cauldron kills the Carver, Feyre grieves the fallen Illyrian soldiers while observing their army buckling under Hybern's renewed assault. Nesta emerges shaken from the Cauldron's attack, and Cassian rushes to her aid. When Azriel and Amren volunteer for a suicidal strike against the Cauldron itself, Rhysand realizes they face an impossible situation: an armada of Hybern's reinforcements sails toward them from the west, trapping their forces between two armies. Rhysand orders Azriel to the northern flank and Cassian to the south, preparing for what appears to be their final stand. He begs Feyre to run if all is lost, but she refuses. However, as Hybern's armada approaches the beach, a new sound interrupts the battle: multiple horn blasts from the east. Rhysand lifts Feyre skyward to witness a shocking sight—thousands of winged Seraphim soldiers flying above an enormous armada of ships. The aerial host is led by Drakon, a Seraphim prince whom Rhysand believed unreachable on the shielded island of Cretea. Drakon explains that a glamour had protected the island for three centuries, but when they learned of Hybern's threat to Miryam, they departed. The ships below carry forces from multiple nations, rallied by someone Drakon calls the Prince of Merchants—who has spent months gathering an independent human army after discovering the human queens' betrayal. Drakon reveals this commander named three of his personal ships after his daughters, and as the human fleet closes in, Feyre reads the ship names: The Feyre, The Elain, and The Nesta. Her father leads the charge.

Characters

  • FeyreProtagonist who witnesses the Cauldron's devastating strike and realizes defeat is imminent; experiences the arrival of unexpected reinforcements and discovers her father commands the human fleet.
  • RhysandCommander who orders Azriel and Cassian to their positions while preparing for defeat; orders Feyre into the sky to witness the reinforcements.
  • CassianWarrior who rushes to Nesta after the Cauldron's attack and is deployed to the southern flank; carries Nesta skyward to witness the arriving armies.
  • NestaSuffers the Cauldron's backlash and lies in the grass; reacts with shock to Drakon's revelation about the Prince of Merchants.
  • AzrielVolunteers to strike against the Cauldron despite his unhealed wings; is ordered to command the northern flank instead.
  • AmrenOffers to attempt stopping the Cauldron with Feyre; holds Elain upright as she vomits in fear.
  • ElainExperiences pure terror of the Cauldron; held upright by Amren.
  • DrakonSeraphim prince who arrives with reinforcements; explains the shield on Cretea and reveals the identity of the human army's commander.
  • VassaHuman queen discovered and rallied by the Prince of Merchants; mentioned as leading part of the human fleet with Miryam's people.
  • MiryamAlly who figured out why Rhysand could not request aid; sails with some of her people in the human fleet.
  • LucienMentioned as meeting the human forces later and directing them to arrive at the current time.
  • The Prince of MerchantsCommander of the independent human army; discovered the human queens' treachery months ago and gathered forces; revealed to be Feyre's father.
  • HybernEnemy commander who cheers and pushes harder upon learning of incoming reinforcements.
  • HelionStruggles to hold the battle lines.
  • TarquinStruggles to hold the battle lines.
  • KalliasStruggles to hold the battle lines.
  • JurianBattles on the northern flank; his face tightens with rage at learning of the Prince of Merchants.
  • TamlinBattles on the northern flank.
  • BeronBattles on the northern flank.
  • ThesanHis Peregryns are interspersed with Illyrian legions in battle.
  • The WeaverFighting on the eastern front; her death-dance hindered by too many enemies.
  • BryaxisCreature shredding through enemy lines with many dead in its wake.
  • KeirHis Darkbringers fight in the battle as wisps of shadow.
  • GraysenMentioned as providing men to Jurian's human army.