Chapter 86

The protagonist is imprisoned in an arena cell, watching captives slaughtered by razahs while bearing fresh wounds inflicted by his brother Arkyn. Arkyn reveals that Raeve—the protagonist's lover—has been transformed into a gladiator called the Fire Lark and will be forced to fight and kill him in the arena as a spectacle, with the lives of his daughter Kyzari and sister Veya hanging in the balance.

The narrator observes brutal killings in a volcanic arena from a holding cell, haunted by the knowledge that Kyzari—whom he believed to be his niece—is actually his biological daughter with Elluin. Arkyn arrives wearing a toothy crown, bearing burn scars from Pah's Sabersythe, and reveals that the razahs are reforged spirits of dead fae controlled by Ignos. When a gate opens, Raeve emerges as the Fire Lark—a heavily armored gladiator with black eyes and white flame-wings, transformed and seemingly under the control of the dragon Slátra. Arkyn stabs the protagonist repeatedly, explaining that he has arranged this spectacle as payment to the Tri-Council for supporting his rise to power in the north. The protagonist is told he must fight and injure Raeve in the arena to entertain the crowd; only when Arkyn is satisfied will Raeve be permitted to execute him. Guards armor the protagonist and prepare him for combat. When Arkyn asks how it felt to behead their father Pah, the protagonist admits the revenge brought no peace. The chapter ends with the protagonist alone with guards, about to be sent into the arena to face Raeve.