Chapter 78

Feysand and her sisters conduct a funeral pyre for their father in a quiet clearing after the battle's end. Lucien arrives with news of Vassa's curse and his role in bringing reinforcements, while Miryam and Drakon are revealed to have come to aid in the war. The chapter closes with Feysand discovering these unexpected guests in her tent.

After the battle concludes, Feysand leaves Rhysand to manage the armies and returns to a clearing with Nesta and Elain to bury their father. The three sisters find his body untouched by scavengers. Elain performs tender rituals—washing his face, combing his hair, and placing flowers on his body—while Nesta remains emotionally distant. Feysand recites a Prythian prayer and ignites his body with her fire magic, reducing him to ash. Lucien then arrives, having run from the shore, and explains that their father negotiated with Vassa's keeper to allow her temporary freedom from her firebird curse to fight in the battle. He reveals Vassa is queen by night and firebird by day, and that Miryam and Drakon found them on their own journey to help. Lucien also clarifies that Nesta made the killing blow against the King of Hybern. As Feysand walks back to camp with Lucien and Elain, she notices Lucien's interest in Elain, and Elain invites him to visit Velaris. Upon entering her tent to change, Feysand discovers Rhysand, Prince Drakon, and Miryam already inside, waiting.