The following is meant only as a quick, high-level refresher of the events in Of War and Ruin, rather than a full synopsis.

As such, I will gloss over many important occurrences and characters during this recap, and some – in a few cases – are not mentioned at all.

I will try to catch you up on the events and characters that are the most important to Of Empires and Dust.

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For a Story So Far sections that encompasses Of Blood and Fire and The Fall please read HERE.

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For a Story So Far sections that encompasses Of Darkness and Light and The Exile please read HERE.

 

This refresher will contain spoilers.

 

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Of War and Ruin

 

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The coastal city of Easterlock is attacked by an elven force that has emerged from the woodland of Lynalion. At first, the garrison readies for the attack and stands firm. But Captain Teera Linar prepares for death when she hears the beating of wings and a dragon emerges from the night to set the city ablaze.

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In the aftermath of the Battle of Kingspass, Calen finds his brother, Haem, is not only still alive, but is now a Knight of Achyron bearing the new name, Arden. They embrace and speak briefly before Brother-Captain Kallinvar is granted the mantle of Grandmaster in the wake of Grandmaster Verathin’s death. Arden is commanded to leave with the Knights, and Calen is distraught at the brief reunion.

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Calen and the others leave Kingspass and travel north in search of sanctuary with a man named Rokka on the advice of the Imperial Battlemage, Arkana Vardane, who he fought alongside during the battle.

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In Durakdur, Dahlen faces the consequences on an attempt on King Daymon’s life – an attempt it appears Daymon himself was involved in orchestrating with Queen Pulroan and Queen Kira. Dahlen challenges Daymon. In response, Daymon raises Lumeera Arian to Lord-Captain of the Belduaran Kingsguard. He blames Dahlen on the assassination attempt and orders Lumeera to take him into custody. Dahlen decides to go without a fight, and Daymon orders the Kingsguard to march through the Heart of Durakdur towards the refugee quarters. The encounter Kira and her dwarves in the street. Kira believes Daymon to be responsible for an attempt on her life. A battle ensues. Belina Louna rescues Dahlen in the ensuing chaos.

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In Al’Nasla, we find Rist Havel in the library reading Druids, a Magic Lost and debating on the particulars of historical accounts. He practices with Brother Garramon, where he learns of the man’s past as the Arbiter. Garramon was charged with rooting out potential traitors in the newly-formed empire. It is alluded to that Garramon made choices in that that cost him his marriage, and more. Garramon goes to meet Fane Mortem, and it is revealed the emperor is in possession of the research papers of Kiralla Holflower, who was killed by Therin  in ‘The Exile’ for her blood rune experiments on elves. Fane instructs Garramon to begin Rist’s Trial of Faith. Garramon meets Herald Azrim, who now possesses Artim Valdock’s body.

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Meanwhile, Dann, Therin, Alea, Lyrei, and Aeson travel deeper into the Darkwood in search of the elven city hidden within. Here, they are attacked by the Aldithmar – dark spirits that haunt the woodland. Alea is badly wounded and the group escape narrowly by crossing the line of Nithrandír – souls of ancient elves encased in armour – that form a perimeter around the city of Aravell. They discover the city of Aravell, hidden by a glamour within the depths of the Darkwood. 

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In the rebel outpost of Tarhelm, Ella watches Coren and Farwen spar. She goes to check on Tanner Fjorn after the man was almost killed saving her and escaping Berona. Yana shows Ella letters the rebels have intercepted telling of dragons and armies that are laying waste to the eastern cities. She tells Ella of the elves in Lynalion who retreated into the woodland after The Fall. This is where Ella learns both Farwen and Coren were Draleid before their soulkin were killed. Tanner awakens and tells Ella that Calen is the emergent Draleid and that her parents have been killed.

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Back in Al’Nasla, Exarch Anila takes Rist and Neera to train with the Battlemages of the First Army. Rist gets distracted by a goat. They meet Exarch Magnus Offa and begin training in Group Movements with the Spark.

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In Tarhelm, Ella talks with Coren. Coren agrees to help Ella find Calen, and Ella agrees to being training with Coren. Miles away at Fort Harken, Farda Kyrana leads the mages of the Fourth Army into battle against the Urak force attacking the fort. We see a mutual respect he shares with Commander Ayura Talvare. The battle rages and Farda fights heroically, killing a Fade and leading his warriors. A reserve Urak force attacks from the rear, and when all is almost lost Lyina, Jormun, Ilkya, and Voranur arrive astride the mighty dragons Karakes, Hrothmundar, Eríthan, and Seleraine.

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On the island of Dracaldryr, Eltoar Daethana seeks out Tivar Savinír and her soulkin Avandeer. Tivar struggles greatly with the death and carnage they have caused across the centuries and has exiled herself on the island. The pair have a tense and emotionally charged encounter where Eltoar tells Tivar of Calen Bryer, and she refuses to spill the blood of any more of her kind.

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In Aravell, Therin, Dann, and the group walk through the beautiful city of Aravell, escorted by the city’s steward – Halmír – and the the High Captain of the Aravell Rangers – Thalanil. We learn that Therin’s Ayar Elwyn, Líra Alunea, was responsible for creating the city. They meet the Ephorí of Aravell who are broken up into representatives of the three elven kingdoms – Lunithír, Vaelen, and Ardurän. The Ephorí agree to escort the group through the Darkwood to the Burnt Lands in an attempt to intercept Calen.

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Calen and the others reach Rokka’s hut and discover that the frail old man is actually a druid. He claims to be a Seerdruid, who can see the potential paths of the future. He gives Calen a flat steel disc, claiming that he doesn’t know why Calen needs it, just that he did. At that point, Calen wants to leave with Valerys and traverse the Burnt Lands on their own to stop the others from risking their lives. Tarmon convinces him not to.

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At the Temple of Achyron, Kallinvar mourns the loss of Verathin and the two other knights who fell at Kingspass. He beings to hear Achyron’s voice in his mind. Kallinvar raises Arlena to Sister-Captain of The First, and Ruon to Sister-Captain of The Second in his place. As Grandmaster, he makes the choice to be bolder and to reach out across the continent in search of Allies against the coming shadow. Arden dwells on leaving Calen at Kingspass, and Kallinvar sends Lyrin to track down any hints of Calen’s location.

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Calen has vivid dreams of past events, of dragons and battles, dreams that feel real. He has experienced dreams like this ever since Valerys lost control in the tunnels beneath Lodhar. He once again reads the letter from Alvira Serris to Eluna that he found in Vindakur along with the pendant. Before they left for The Burnt Lands, Rokka tells Calen a riddle and claims he does not understand it himself, he only knows that he needed to say it to Calen.

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Beneath the mountains of Lodhar, Dahlen plans with Belina and the pair of them meet with Queen Kira in an attempt to discover what is truly happening in the Dwarven Freehold. To prove to Kira that an attempt was not just made on her life, but on Daymon’s as well, they devise a plan to get inside the refugee quarters where Daymon is holed up, and secure the only surviving assassin so he can confirm the sequence of events.

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Still reeling from Verathin’s loss, Kallinvar joins his knights in defending a Drifaeinin town from the Bloodspawn. He loses control, consumed by his grief, and almost kills innocent people, his blade only stopped by Arden before the killing stroke could be made. Recognising Kallinvar’s grief, Tarron, Ildris, and Ruon go to him after the battle to provide support.

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With Alina having taken control of Skyfell, she calls a meeting of all the key figures in the burgeoning rebellion to forge the path forward. The meeting is a heated one, with multiple leaders challenging Alina and many standing behind her. Here Dayne reveals that he is alive and has returned. Afterwards, Senya Deringal, voices her support of House Ateres, and Turik Baleer attempts to ingratiate himself with Dayne, leaving Alina frustrated and paranoid.

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Calen, Tarmon, Vaeril, and Erik reach The Burnt Lands where they discover bodies left over from a past battle. It looks as though all the bodies are Lorian and the fight seems to have been between themselves. The group then get attacked by a host of n’aka, who flee under the threat of Valerys’s dragonfire.

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While traversing The Burnt Lands, Calen has more vivid dreams. This time he sees the night The Glade was attacked by Uraks. The night Haem died. In his dream he sees that Rhett doesn’t abandon Haem, he instead risks his life to save Haem. He then watches as Kallinvar and the other knights grant Haem a Sigil of Achyron and save him from the jaws of death. The next day, while awake, he sees a vision of the destruction of an elven city within The Burnt Lands. Tempers begin to fray as the strain of the journey takes its toll. 

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Aeson and his group arrive at The Burnt Lands to discover Calen, Tarmon, Erik, and Vaeril have already entered. Aeson and Dann want to go after them but are convinced not to by Therin. They set Angan on either side of the wasteland to keep watch.

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In Durakdur, Belina and Dahlen find a way into the refugee quarters. They discover the Belduaran refugees are starving and living in squalor. They find Oleg Marylin who returns Dahlen’s swords, which were lost after Dahlen was taken into custody. They convince Oleg to tell them where the assassin is being held. Dahlen and Belina find Ihvon Arnell watching over the assassin and convince him to hand the man over in the hopes of clearing Daymon’s name and finding common ground with the dwarves.

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The assassin reveals to Kira that he was sent to kill Daymon and told to tell others that it was Elenya who sent him. Kira thanks the assassin then kills him. She agrees to bring wagons of food to the Belduaran refugees and to let Dahlen tell Daymon she wishes to discuss peace, and reveals that she believes Hoffnar to be dead following the assassination attempts.

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While crossing The Burnt Lands, Vaeril teaches Calen about creating and breaking through wards of Spirit, the tension continuing to grow within the group. Those tensions rise to boiling point when Calen and Erik have a major confrontation. They discern that something is wrong, but before they can do anything they are attacked by a large number of n’aka. Calen draws a huge amount from the Spark and ,with Valerys’s power running through him, kills nearly a hundred n’aka at once, turning the sand to spikes of glass and skewering the creatures. Both Calen and Valerys’s eyes mist with a purple light. Vaeril finds a way to hold back the darkness within The Burnt Lands that has been affecting their minds through the journey. That night, as they sleep, Calen sees Alvira Serris’s death in his dreams through the eyes of her soulkin, Vyldrar.

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Back in Al’Nasla, Rist has been undergoing heavy training. Garramon leads Rist to the library and tells him that his Trial of Faith is to tap into the power of an Essence vessel and draw the strength from within. He gives Rist a week to make his choice and leaves him in the library with as many books on Essence as he can find, allowing him to inform himself and make his own choice.

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Ella begins her training with Coren in Tarhelm, forcing her to hike the mountain paths in a full suit of armour to build her endurance and to strengthen her mental resolve. When they rest, Coren tells Ella that Farda is Rakina, and in doing so reveals he was once a Draleid. She explains that Farda was once considered one of the finest Draleid in the world, and a close friend of Alvira Serris, but that all changed shortly before The Fall. They talk about the fact that Farwen thinks Ella has druidic blood. Ella tries to ‘shift’ with Faenir, and nothing happens. But she does seem to be able to feel his emotions around Rhett’s death.

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In the Temple of Achyron, Kallinvar hears reports of the factions across the continent including the Red Suns, and a group that bears the gryphon banner of Old Amendel – Kallinvar’s home – led by Aryana Torval. Watcher Gildrick introduces Kallinvar to Gildrick’s new charge, Tallia. He brings Kallinvar the journals of all the old Grandmasters so that he can potentially understand some of his new abilities as Grandmaster. Later, Watcher Gildrick finds Kallinvar in Ardholm and brings him a mug of Arlen Root tea to give him a small piece of home.

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In Valtara, Dayne spends time with Mera and then goes to see his sister, Alina, in what was once his father’s study, then his brother, Baren’s, and now belongs to Alina. Alina tells of how Loren Koraklon brough their parent’s headless bodies back and hung the bodies in Skyfell for days. She and Marlin Arkon have spoken and she asks Dayne to become the Andurios and reform the elite warriors of the Andurii. Dayne reluctantly accepts, believing himself unworthy. Marlin introduces him to the new candidates and the selection process begins. Dayne gains the markings of a spearmaster after defeating Thorken in single combat. He is then reunited with Iloen Akaida, who Dayne saved when Iloen was just a boy when the Lorians attacked Redstone. Later, Alina shows Dayne the new banner of a free Valtara, and makes Dayne a gift of their father’s old armour and shield.

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Continuing their journey through the Burnt Lands, Erik apologises to Calen for the words he spoke during their confrontation and explains that he has doubts about travelling across The Burnt Lands in search of Rist, but that he will stand by Calen. After weeks of travel, they emerge from the other side of The Burnt Lands.

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Rist’s relationship with Neera continues to deepen as they talk of their past and their families, and how they the Circle took Neera in after her parents were killed by Uraks. When Rist returns to the library, he is sought out by Fane Mortem. The emperor talks with Rist about the morality of Essence and the recycling of life energy. He demonstrates Essence’s capacity to do good by using it to heal an injured bird. He tells Rist about the history of human’s arrival in Epheria from Terroncia. He explains that Efialtír is known as Lifebringer to the Uraks, and that it is through Essence that the Urak’s give life to their young after their race was ravaged by a disease that left the vast majority of their offspring stillborn. He challenges Rist to look past his own preconceptions when it comes to Blood Magic or, Essence.

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Beneath Lodhar, Dahlen travels with virtuk drawn wagons to the refugee quarters. He is reunited with Yoring and Almer, who he fought alongside at the Battle of Belduar. Here he also finds Nimara, who guided them through the tunnels in search of Erik and Calen when they were lost fleeing Belduar. They have a confrontation with Queen Pulroan’s Queensguard – dwarves of Azmar – who don’t wish food to be brought into the entrenched Belduarans. Daymon believes that Kira’s offer of food is to undermine him and show his people that she can provide for them where he can’t. He sends Dahlen and the others out of the room.

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While waiting for Daymon to make a decision, Dahlen, Belina and the others wait in the main street of the refugee quarters. Belina sings the ballad of the Breaker of Chains, and thousands upon thousands of Belduaran refugees come out onto the balconies with lanterns in hand to listen.

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In the meantime, Ihvon convinces Daymon to talk to Kira, and Daymon, for the first time, makes his first steps towards becoming a true king and begins to take accountability. When they look out the window to hear the end of Belina’s song, Pulroan’s forces smash into the refugee quarters and attack. Both Ihvon and Daymon perish in the ensuing battle, which only ends when Kira and Elenya ride in to the Belduaran’s aid.

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After the battle, Kira and Elenya question survivors from Pulroan’s forces, who claim that Pulroan is dead and was killed by an assassin bearing a Belduaran blade. Given the new information Kira and Elenya demand answers from the nobles of Belduar, who firmly deny any involvement. Oleg Marylin steps up and speaks for the people of Belduar. Kira suggest that if the Belduarans become vassals of the Lodhar Freehold then she and Elenya can protect them from any further attacks by the dwarves of Azmar. After a debate, the agreement is made and Oleg Marylin is selected by the dwarves to become the new Keeper of the Mountain. Daymon and Ihvon’s bodies are burned on funeral pyres, along with the other Belduarans who fell during the fighting, and Kira tells Dahlen that he will always be considered a friend in the Freehold.

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Further west, Alina and her forces lay siege to Lostwren. She leads her Wyndarii in the air astride their wyverns, while Dayne’s newly formed Andurii lead the charge from the ground alongside Senya Deringal and Vhin Herak. Alina hopes to resolve the situation without bloodshed, and in doing so bring Tula Vakira and House Vakira  behind their banner. But Hera Malik goes against her and leads a contingent of the Wyndarii to attack, forcing Alina’s hand.

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Seeing what has happened, Dayne leads his Andurii forward and breaks down the gate with the Spark. The Andurii and the Wyndarii lead the battle and eventually win the day, convincing the Vakiran soldiers to turn their spears on the Lorians they had previously fought beside. Alina confronts Hera for her disobedience and endangering Valtaran lives, striking her twice in anger. Hera apologises, but it is clear she doesn’t mean the words.

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Three weeks, Aeson has waited on the edge of The Burnt Lands with Dann, Therin, and the Fenryr Angan, Baldon. He thinks back to the only time he had entered the wasteland, and how the madness had set into his companions and almost all of them had died. Dann decides to develop his valúr, by taking up whittling. He is terrible. Baldon speaks with Dann and Calls him Dann Sureheart. When Dann questions the name, Baldon tells him it is the name that he has earned. Just as Therin is Silverfang, and Aeson is Broken One, Dann is Sureheart. He encourages Dann, telling him that it is important to take pride in failing, because it means you have tried. And that Dann can only ever succeed if he allows himself to fail.

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Calen and the others arrive at Berona to find a stream of refugees trying to enter the city. They meet a man who has travelled all the way from Ravensgate, who claims that elves and dragons destroyed his home. Calen’s group determine the man might just be mistaken. Later they meet one of Aeson’s contacts, Ingvat, who introduces them to a pair of informants within the Circle of Magii, Black and Gold. They tell Calen that no new initiates by the name of Rist Havel have been registered in the High Tower. As they speak Calen’s eyes begin to glow with a purple light when he becomes frustrated and his anger comes through. Gold reveals that Inquisitor Rendall  – the man who killed Calen’s dad – is in the Beronan Dungeons below the city and has brought his new initiate with him; an initiate that reports say comes from a village known as The Glade. Convinced this new initiate is Rist, they hatch a plan to infiltrate the Beronan Dungeons.

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Back in Durakdur, Oleg has one last request for Dahlen and Belina: he asks them to join the escort of Belduaran citizens who wish to travel to the western villages to find a safe place to settle. Dahlen eventually agrees, as does Belina – in exchange for cheese. As they ready to leave, Dahlen discovers that Nimara, Yoring, and Almer will be joining the expedition. Nimara reminds him that he still owes her a tankard of ale.

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In the dungeons below Berona, we see Inquisitor Rendall reading through his thoroughly documented torture notes for a prisoner who has endured months of torture has still not spoken a word or granted Rendall a scream. Calen enters the dungeons disguised as an Inquisitor, with Erik and Tarmon wearing Praetorian armour, and Vaeril posing as a prisoner. All three reiterate their support of Calen. They talk their way past the guards at the main entrance and learn which room Rendall is in. At the same time, Rendall notes that he has never encountered a living creature with the level of resolve as the elf he was currently torturing. He continues to instruct his apprentice on the appropriate way to peel a prisoner’s skin.

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Calen and the others find Rendall and a fight ensues where Calen kills the Inquisitor and discovers not only that the elf being tortured is Gaeleron, who they had thought survived the attack on Belduar and was safe in Durakdur, but that Rendall’s initiate is none other than Fritz Netly from The Glade. Incensed by Fritz’s involvement in Gaeleron’s torture, Calen comes moments from killing Fritz, only to be stopped by Tarmon, who settles him. Fritz is unarmed and afraid, and if Calen kills him that way, it will haunt him.

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While Vaeril tends to Gaeleron, Calen and the others discover that Rendall has also been keeping both Lasch and Elia Havel prisoner this entire time, and has been torturing them. Both of their minds are broken, and they are severely malnourished. While trying to escape the dungeon, Calen and the group run into Pellenor Dambren – one of the Dragonguard. The man easily outmatches them all, but tells Calen that he has come to help them. They have been betrayed, and someone has informed the Inquisition that they are in the city. Pellenor tells Calen of a secret tunnel that he built himself that will lead them back to the surface before the Inquisition can reach them. He seems genuinely intent on helping Calen, and tells Calen that when he is ready to talk all he needs to do is light the beacon on the roof of the temple on the highest peak of Dracaldryr. The group escape the dungeons and find their way to the Raven’s Ruin to meet Gold so they can leave the city. We learn Gold’s name is Surin, and that it was Black who betrayed them. Calen meets Lyrin here, and they leave.

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North in Al’Nasla, Rist makes the decision that he wants to proceed with his Trial of Faith, and Garramon discovers that Fane spoke to Rist without telling him. Garramon tells Rist that he is proud of him and of his dedication, and Rist truly feels like Garramon has been there to support him from the very start. Rist taps into the Essence vessel and feels the power coursing through his veins. After a moment Rist realises that someone died to give the vessel this power, and he pulls his mind back, relinquishing the strength. Garramon gives Rist his new black robes to signify his elevation in rank into the affinity of Battlemages. But he also tells Rist that within a week they are to march with the First and Fourth armies to Steeple to counter a growing threat. They are going to battle. Garramon gives Rist a dagger and sets the Essence vessel into the hilt, informing Rist that to elevate to the position of full Brother, he must not only learn to take Essence from a vessel, but also to fill the vessel. He must take a life.

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After the battle for Lostwren, Dayne meets his Andurii captains –  Dinekes, Odys, Ileeri, Barak, and Jorath – in the Andurii command tent and asks them up front how they feel about him being a mage, as this wasn’t common knowledge before the battle. The captains reaffirm their loyalty to Dayne.

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Meanwhile in Tarhelm, Ella continues her training. She practices the blade with Tanner, who bests her with ease despite his injuries. They remark that Faenir has gotten considerably larger. They find Farwen talking to Juro and Varik who report that the First Army has left Al’Nasla, and the Second Army has left Arginwatch – both heading for Steeple. Ella mentions the letters Yana showed her, where a Lorian commander claims to have lost contact with Easterlock and Ravensgate, and that their scouts have disappeared, and that there are stories of armies sweeping across the east and razing cities. They connect this to the Lorian military movements and it is decided to send a scout party to track the armies and to investigate some of Juro’s missing scouts. Ella, Tanner, Yana, and Farwen go with the party. Coren gifts Ella a set of leather armour.

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At Fort Harken, Farda encounters Commander Talvare and Guthrin Vandimire – who he despises – while walking through the Lorian camp, and he jokes that his coin is for deciding whether Guthrin lives or dies. He arrives at the Dragonguard command tent to discover that Eltoar and Helios have arrived at the camp. Eltoar has been to the eastern coast, and he says that Easterlock, Ravensgate, Gildor, and Bromis have all been razed, and hundreds of thousands are dead. They believe it could be the elves of Lynalion finally emerged from their woodland bastion.

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Further south, Calen and the others emerge from the tunnel that leads them from Berona. Fritz, Lasch, and Elia, are with them alongside a large group of rebels who were forced to flee the city after Black’s betrayal. Calen goes to Gaeleron, who repeatedly tells Calen that he didn’t break no matter what they did to him. Surin, Ingvat and the rebels ask to travel across the Burnt Lands with Calen. Calen agrees. 

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At the Temple of Achyron, Kallinvar tells the Arden and the others that Lyrin has found Calen Bryer. They use the Rift and travel to Calen’s location. Kallinvar offers Calen’s group aid in crossing the Burnt Lands again – an honourguard. He does this as a sign of his intentions. There is some tension as Calen believes that Kallinvar is yet another person simply trying to control him for their own means. But Arden removes his helmet and asks Calen to trust him.

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Arden approaches Calen and they sit and talk, experiencing a proper reunion. Arden explains what he is now – a Knight of Achyron – and apologies for not being there. Tarmon watches the two brothers talk while he speaks with Vaeril. Vaeril says that he, Tarmon, Erik, and Calen are Vandasera – Oathsworn, bound by honour and a singular purpose.

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Later that night, Erik tracks Fritz through the trees and discovers that Fritz intends to kill Calen while he sleeps. Erik kills Fritz.

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Ella travels east with scouting party. They find Juro’s missing scouts have been killed by Uraks. They are set upon by another group of Uraks. Many of the scouts die. Ella survives due to a feral power that seemingly awakens within her, a red mist clouding her vision. She attacks the Uraks with teeth and claw, ripping them apart, Faenir defending her fiercely. Her nose gets broken and she is left with a scar on the side of her head. Yana shows a deep concern for Ella.  Farwen claims Ella’s newfound strength and ferocity – along with her nails hardening into claws during the battle – are proof she is a druid.

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Nearby, Rist marches with the First Army astride his new horse – Trusil – that Garramon gifted him. He spots Supreme Commander Taya Tambrel and her Blackwatch, astride their Varsundi Blackthorns. He is wearing all new armour and has a news word at his hip, courtesy of Garramon. Tommin notes that as a Healer he wasn’t given a sword. Rist and Neera speak as they move, and he apologises for not telling her when Garramon started his Trial of Faith. She tells him that he owes her no apology. Rist watches in awe as Helios and Karakes join the army and fly overhead.An hour later, they arrive at Fort Harken where Rist meets Farda Kyrana.

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Ella and the others continue to track the Lorian armies. She has an encounted with Lorian scouts where she hears the wolf howling within her and she once more loses a bit of her control as she savages one of the scouts, that same red mist clouding her vision. The group decide to stand back and watch to see who the Lorian armies are marching to fight.

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In the Lorian camp, Rist practices swordsmanship with Sister Anila. Magnus arrives with a cask of wine. They drink into the night and Magnus tells stories and jokes with Anila. Farda watches as Magnus tells the stories, and notes the man’s propensity for exaggeration. As he turns to leave, he meets three other Justicar’s – Former Draleid who joined Fane’s coup and became Rakina. Hala, Ilyain, and Gunild drink with Farda as they ready for the battle the next day. Atop the mountains, overlooking the camp Eltoar stands with Lyina, looking out at the land. They talk about Tivar and the wall of fog that has been moving across the eastern cities. Pellenor arrives astride Meranta with the head of an elf. They are absolutely certain now that they march against the elves of Lynalion.

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In the barren waste of the Burnt Lands, Calen’s group stop for the night. They’ve lost several people to the n’aka, but most of their number are alive. Calen takes the weight of the losses upon himself, but Ingvat tells him he is wrong, that doing so detracts from their autonomy and the choice they made to follow him. Lasch and Elia are still non-responsive, and it is clear Rendall had been feeding them poison that affected their mind. Calen talks more to Ruon about the Sigil of Achyron and the knights themselves. The knights have the ability to keep the madness of the Burnt Lands at bay. Arden comments to Tarmon about how different Calen is now from what he remembers.

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After being ambushed at the River Artis by Thebalan and Lorian forces, Alina flies to the the Andurii camp astride Rynvar. Two of Dayne’s captains – Odys and Jorath were killed in the ambush. Alina doesn’t find Dayne where she expects him, however, as he has travelled to their family’s nearby farm close to  Myrefall to meet Baren, who he sent there after the retaking of Skyfell. But when Dayne gets to the farmhouse, Baren isn’t there. Baren has left a letter taking accountability for his past actions. He accepts he can’t change what he’s done, but says he is going to go and find Alina’s son, who was taken away from her by the Lorians and Loren Koraklon. He also tells Dayne that he forgives himfor disappearing all those years ago. Dayne flips the table, enraged at the thought of everything Loren has taken from their family. Alina arrives outside on Rynvar. She is furious at Dayne for lying to her about leaving Baren alive. They argue, and Dayne once again asks her to reach out to Aeson Virandr for aid, given how large a force Loren has gathered. Alina refuses once again and says they march on Myrefall in the morning.

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In the North, the Lorian armies have gathered at the Three Sisters in preparation for their encounter with the elven forces within the wall of fog that was travelled along the eastern coast. Rist ponders on what type of magic could be able to create something like the dense grey fog. Eltoar argues with Olivan Karta, the commander of the Second Army. Past the banks of the River Halda, the fog dissipates and reveals an elven host at least thirty thousand strong, garbed in shimmering gold plate and bearing the banner of a golden stag on a crimson field – the old banner of Lunithír.  Taya Tambrel, Farda, Magnus, and  Commander Talvare ride out to meet the commanders of the elven army. This is where we meet Queen Vandrien Lunithír, a legendary elven mage and royal who Farda had thought long dead. Vandrien is introduced as the queen of Numillíon. The right of Alvadrû – ritual combat – is offered but refused. 

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At the beginning of the battle, the elves use the Spark to wipe the River Gurdil from existence, changing the region’s name form the Three Sisters, to the Two Sisters. The battle commences. As predicted, the elves take a very aggressive stance and charge into the centre of the Lorian lines. The Lorians enact their battle plan, and their Battlemages push around the elven flanks, then create a massive fissure in the earth to divide the elven forces in half.  The forward half of the elven force ends up surrounded by Lorians and hemmed in with the fissure at their back. The rear half are completely exposed and Eltoar and the Dragonguard pour dragonfire down over them. When it looks as though all is going to plan, six elven dragons emerge from within the cover of the mountains. Thinking that no other dragons had survived the past four hundred years, Eltoar and the others are caught completely off guard.

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Eltoar hesitates. So many dragons and Draleid had died, he didn’t want to kill any more. But he is forced into action when the elven dragons sweep past and set fire to the Lorian ranks, and Pellenor refuses to allow them to continue doing so.

On the battlefield below, Rist fights for his life, dragonfire pouring down around him. He kills an elf and draws her life Essence into the gemstone. Garramon saves Rist’s live tackling him out of the path of dragonfire. The Lorian forces go into full retreat.

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In the skies, Eltoar continues to hesitate, two parts of his soul battling as the dragons once more went to war against one another. That hesitation is costly as Meranta and  Pellenor are torn from the sky, and driven to a complete rage, Eltoar and Helios kill three of the elven Draleid and their dragons. After the battle, Eltoar and Lyina find Pellenor’s corpse in the crater caused by Meranta’s body.

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At the edge of the Burnt Lands Dann continues to be terrible at whittling. He feels the absence of Alea and Lyrei, who remain in Aravell, and decides to just talk to Drunir instead. This pleases the horse. Asius, and Senas join them, as does Aneera, and three Angan of Clan Dvalin.

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Valerys flies overhead and the whole camp watches in awe. Calen and his group emerge from the Burnt Lands, and Dann and Calen embrace each other. Calen tells Dann that he tried to find Rist, and that he failed.

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Aeson confronts Calen and calls him selfish for travelling to Berona with so many lives hanging in the balance. Calen stands up to him, and Aeson backs down. Dann remarks on how Calen’s eye colour has changed to a pale lavender to match Valerys’s. Dann learns that Haem Bryer is alive. Baldon and Aneera kneel before Calen and call him Son of the Chainbreaker.

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Calen is brought to Aravell. Along the way, Therin explains that Angan are shapeshifters and children of the old druidic gods. Here we see Vaeril speak to Therin with the respect that most other elves of Aravell do not give him. Therin promises he will tell Calen everything about his father later that night. As they travel through the Darkwood, Calen sees the Aldithmar watching them from the depths of the woodland, kept at bay by the presence of the Dvalin Angan. As they walk, Calen thinks on all those around him, his friends and his family, and all those he loves, and realises that they are the reason he is fighting. They step through the glamour that hides the city and are greeted by a procession of armoured elves.  Therin warns Calen to be wary of the Ephorí and the Triarchy – the kings and queens of the three elven kingdoms that occupy Aravell – and tells them of how they will try to twist words and use him for their own gain. They are his people, and he loves them, but he also knows them. One of the two Ephorí of Lunithír, Thurivîr, steps forward to introduce himself but Valerys cuts him off with a roar. 

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Calen is escorted to Mythníril where he is introduced to King Galdra of Lunithír, Queen Uthrían of Ardurän, and King Silmiryn of Vaelen. When Calen grasps Queen Uthrían’s hand, he sees a vision of her past, in which she watches her son, Prince Athír die at the Battle of the Golden Fields, along with all his brothers. Others notice that something has happened, but don’t know what. The in the conversations that follow, and the planning for the path forward, Calen becomes frustrated that people are talking about him as though he isn’t there. Though it is not Calen who speaks up, but Baldon. The Fenryr Angan puts the others in their place, stating that his people are not hounds to be ordered. He notes that the two people the Angan are present for are Therin Silverfang, and the Son of the Chainbreaker – Cale – and that those two people have received little respect in this council. Aneera comments that the Fenryr Angan weep for the death of Vars Bryer and wish for the death of the person who wielded the blade. Calen tells them that he killed Rendall himself and wonders who his father is to these creatures.

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With Calen’s blessing, the Fenryr Angan agree to act as a communication network for the rebellion, given their unique ability to communicate over great distances.

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In the aftermath of the battle of the Three Sisters, Rist, Anila, and Garramon march through the camp full of injured soldiers, moving from triage tent to triage tent in search of Magnus and Neera, who they lost during the fighting. Rist truly sees the gruesome horrors of war reflected in the myriad horrendous injuries. They eventually find Magnus, who covered in cuts, bruises, and burns, but is otherwise unharmed. He had gotten pinned beneath a horse and fell behind the main retreat. He learns his mages took massive losses to the dragonfire, then tells Rist that Neera is in the tent as well.

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Rist finds Neera on a cot, bloody and bandaged. She took a spear to the chest, but Farda Kyrana carried her from the battlefield and ensured she was cared for. Just as everything seems okay, they see Tommin’s sponsor, Sister Danwar and learn that although Tommin wasn’t fighting, he is dead. He was killed by a delirious, injured soldier he was trying to heal.

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When the commanders of the Lorian armies meet after the battle, they are deciding as to whether to keep retreating or to regroup and try to protect the city of Steeple. Olivan Karta – the commander of the Second Army – calls Eltoar a coward, and in the following confrontation, Eltoar slits Olivan’s throat.

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Meanwhile, Ella, Farwen, and the other rebels take advantage of the Lorian retreat to sow chaos. They sneak into the camp, feigning an elven attack to draw out the guards, then they set fire to many of the tents. Farda, Ilyain, and Hala feel something suspicious and go to investigate. Ella, Juro, and Farwen end up fighting Ilyain and Hala. Juro dies immediately. When Ella is choked by Ilyain, her world shifts and she finds herself in what seems to be a strange spirit world. Here she finally ‘shifts’ with an owl, which allows her to take control of the owl’s body in the mortal plane. As the owl, she scratches at Ilyain’s face, forcing him to release her body, but then something grabs the owl’s body and crushes it. Ella awakens screaming, having felt every moment as the owl died. She is captured by Ilyain.

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Back in Aravell, Aeson takes Calen through the city without telling him where he is going. They talk along the way and Aeson is very open and honest with Calen about his past, what drives him, and what happened to his soulkin – Lyara – which Calen appreciates. Calen learns that there are many more Rakina who reside in a separate part of Aravell known as Alura. He meets Chora Sarn, Harken Holdark, Thacia daughter of Ulin, and many others. He and Valerys also learn that there are also Rakina dragons in Alura, who have survived the death of their soulkin, but have suffered greatly for it. The blind dragon, Ithrax, is the only dragon with enough vitality to take flight. She is also the dragon Calen saw in his vision when he grasped Queen Uthrían’s arm. 

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That same night, they hold a celebration in Alura. Calen hears Baldon call Dann by the name Sureheart. They all laugh and joke and have a bried moment of respite from the chaos. Calen talks to Haem and learned that Rhett indeed did go back to save Haem – part confirming the dream he had as a vision of the past. Calen then also tells Haem that Rhett didn’t die that day as Haem had thought, and that Rhett and Ella were courting. Calen has a deep conversation with Aeson about what it means to be Rakina, and the things some Rakina lose when their soulkin die. Therin begins to tell stories, until eventually Calen asks him to tell the story of the Chainbreaker. Therin does as he is asked, and tells Calen of how his father fought in the Varsund War and was, in fact, the legendary warrior Cassian Tal and slew many great warriors with the same sword he gifted Calen. He tells of how Vars fought for High Lord Castor Kai of Illyanara, and how Therin, Vars, and Baldon fought their way into the dungeons of Varsund and discovered High Lord Rayce Garrin had indeed captured and changed the wolf god, Fenryr. Vars killed the High Lord and freed Fenryr, but when they escaped the city they found Castor Kai had betrayed them and sent his son to take Fenryr and claim him for Illyanara. Vars refused to hand the god over only for him to be enslaved once more, and so he slew Dorian Kai and his retinue, and freed Fenryr – and in doing so became the Chainbreaker. Later he tells Calen and Haem that the reason Vars never told them any of this was to keep them safe for fear Castor Kai would seek to enact revenge on his family, his only saving grace being that Castor Kai only knew him as Cassian Tal and didn’t know the name Vars Bryer. And we learn that Fenryr himself gifted Faenir to the Bryer family, and blessed him, leaving him as their guardian.

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Meanwhile Aeson meets with the other Rakina and Therin. They plan Calen’s training. Atara Anthalin voices her concern, feeling it a cruel thing to send Calen and Valerys against Eltoar and Helios no matter what kind of training they put him through. Many of the others agree, even the smallest of the Lorian dragons are twice Valerys’s size. Aeson and Atara almost come to blows but Chora puts an end to it and tells those who want no part to leave. Atara commits to training Calen in the blade. Kallinvar steps through the Rift and pledges to fight beside them when the Blood Moon comes.

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Kallinvar meets with Ruon and leaves her and the knights of The Second in Aravell. Upon returning to the Temple of Achyron Kallinvar continues to hear Achyron’s voice in his head. Energy pulses through his Sigil and a blinding green light fills his vision and he finds himself in the godsrealm, staring into the eyes of The Warrior himself. The god tells Kallinvar to ready himself, that the Blood Moon is only the next step, that he will not be able to stop Efialtír’s harbingers from widening the tears in the veil, but he must limit their crossing. This is only the beginning. Kallinvar returns to his own body and tells Watcher Gildrick what he saw. 

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Back in the Lorian camp, Garramon leads Rist to the tent where the captured rebel who set fire to the tents is being kept. Garramon was asked to aid with the interrogation. Taya and Eltoar are waiting for them in the tent when they arrive, and it is said that the Justicars – Ilyain and Hala – believe the prisoner to be a druid, as Ilyain has encountered druids before. Rist realises the prisoner is Ella and the wolfpine with her is Faenir, though he is much larger than Rist remembers. Ella recognises him too, but neither say anything. Farda enters. He corrects one of the Blackwatch that Faenir is a wolfpine, not a wolf.

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Later that night, Farda makes the decision to break Ella free, Ilyain and Hala help him. Unfortunately, Talvare and three of her generals were in the tent. He pretends he is there to torture Ella, and asks them to leave, Talvare is about to agree until Guthrin Vandimire convinces her to stay. Rist enters the tent, shocked to see its occupants. When Ella awakens, she calls Farda by name and asks him to help her. Talvare tries to convince Farda not to do whatever he is planning to do, but Farda kills Guthrin, and when Talvare refuses to step aside, he is forced to kill her too, along with her two generals. He regrets the act as he had great respect for Talvare. He discovers that Rist also came to free Ella. When Ella is set free, she pounces on Rist and roars at him, disgusted that he joined the empire. Farda leaves with Ella, knocking Rist out before leaving. 

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Word has been sent out across Epheria to the leaders of the major factions, inviting them to come and meet the new Draleid in person. While Calen is training with Atara and the others, Gaeleron arrives with Therin, Alea, and Lyrei. Gaeleron is using a walking stick, one arm around Therin’s shoulder, unable to hold his own wait so soon after his torture. Alea and Lyrei haven’t been seen since entering the city after Alea was injured by the Aldithmar. They have come now to ask Calen’s forgiveness for him and failing their oath. As a punishment in failing to protect him, their oaths were stripped, and their honour was shorn. They wish to swear oath to him again, to reclaim their honour.

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Calen doesn’t consider them to have failed in anything, and is taken off guard. Thinking on it, he releases all four of Vaeril, Gaeleron, Alea, and Lyrei from their oaths, telling them their honour is intact, and they owe him nothing. He then kneels and says that he will allow Alea and Lyrei to reswear their oaths, as long as they accept his oath in return. Calen, Erik, Vaeril, Dann, Alea, Tarmon, Lyrei, and Gaeleron all swear oaths to protect each and fight by each other’s side no matter what.

Later Therin takes both Haem and Calen to meet Aruni and Valdrin – who he rescued from a Lorian outpost where they were being experimented upon. Haem learns that Calen’s sword once belonged to their dad.Calen notices cracked scabs on Aruni’s wrists as well as blackened scars in the shapes of runes on her flesh., and her eyes were black and ringed with pale red. Eventually, they meet Valdrin, a young elven smith who is crafting Calen’s new armour. 

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Aeson meets Therin, who is going through the reports and letters received from across the continent. News filters in of the Battle of the Three Sisters and the reports of elven dragons. Aeson recieves a letter sent by Dahlen, telling him of Daymon and Ihvon’s deaths, and that Dahlen is travelling to Salme. He receives a second one from Belina saying she’s travelling with Dahlen on her way to Dayne. Then Therin reads a letter from Coren saying that Ella is alive. Aeson asks Therin not to tell Calen. Therin demands that they tell Calen, but in the end Aeson convinces him not to by telling him that if Calen finds out, he will fly north and likely die, and that will be on Therin.

 

In Valtara, an Angan arrives to bring news that Aeson would like to meet. Alina sends the Angan away saying they don’t have time for Aeson’s rebellion. Turik Baleer objects, but Alina shuts him down. In the following conversation Senya Deringal puts forward Alina as the new Queen of Valtara, to lead them forward as one, and the others agree. A coronation is held. Turik Baleer stops the coronation as says that Dayne is the true heir, and starts a chant for ‘King Dayne’. Dayne steps forward, but instead of siding with Turik, as Turik had expected, he instead turns on Turik, kills him in a ritual combat challenge, then places the crown on Alina’s had himself. Turik’s son, Rogal offered to fight in his father’s place, but Turik denied him.

Farda, Hala, and Ilyain sit around a fire with an injured and weary Ella and Faenir after rescuing them from the Lorian camp. Farda is open with Ella and tells her about knowing who she was in Gisa, his plan to capture her, and the fact that he killed Shirea. Farda tells Ella that he flips the coin because the night Aeson killed Farda’s soulkin, Shinyara, Farda flipped that same coin to decide whether or not to persue Aeson after Aeson killed others. The coin toss told Farda bit to go, but he went anyway. That choice got his companions killed as well as Shinyara. Ella gets a vision through the Angan, and  Ilyain – who’s Ayar Elwyn, Andras was a druid – helps her to understand it. They believe it is a message that could lead them to Calen, and they decide to go. Before they can leave, they are found by Tanner, Yana, and Farwen who have come to rescue Ella. Ella tells them that she’s all right and she isn’t going back to Tarhelm, but that she needs to go find Calen. Tanner and Yana insist on coming with her, Farwen returns to Tarhelm.

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Back in Aravell, Dann watches over Lasch and Elia. He and Calen talk and drink elven mead. But while that happens, Rist deals with Tommin’s death, and seeing Ella and the words she spoke to him. He and Garramon talk about Rist killing the elf and filling the Essence vessel. Garramon places the vessel into a pendant for Rist and Rist becomes the youngest ever fully fledged Battlemage.

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In Valtara, House Ateres is betrayed. While they feast and drink, Reinan Sarr, Hera Malik, Rogal Baleer, Aldon Thebal and other traitors pull blades and slaughter many of those loyal to Alina and Dayne. Senya Deringal, Vhin Herak, Tyr Arnen, Marlin Arkon – all dead. Dayne rallies the Andurii and Alina takes the Wyndarii to the sky. There are too many Lorians and traitors alike, and House Ateres has no choice but to retreat. Before the retreat, Dayne summons a pure white níthral in the form of a spear and brings down Hera Malik’s wyvern, then kills Hera.

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As time passes Ella sails along the western coast of Epheria with Farda, Hala, Ilyain, Tanner, and Yana. Rist receives his official black robes of a Battlemage and he finally reaches the last page of Druids, a Magic Lost where we learns that Duran Linold came across a fourth type of Druid: Aldruids, Seerdruids, Skydruids – and Aetherdruids. And we learn that Duran believes the druidic gods are flesh and blood.

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By the time Winter rolls around, Calen has been training for months. He and Valerys have grown much stronger, but he is still no match for the dragonguard. After a heated exchange, Atara says she cannot continue training him as she can’t bring herself to do so only to watch him die. Calen continues training without her, refusing to yield. Meanwhile Arden and the other Knights of Achyron aid in the training of the humans and elves who have rallied to Calen’s cause, with each kingdom of the triarchy committing a thousand elves a piece to Calen.

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Calen, Dann, Tarmon, Alea, Lyrei, and Vaeril finally receive the armour Valdrin has been crafting them. Calen’s is made from an alloy of Antherin steel that Valdrin has named Antherium. Queen Uthrían donated the Antherin steel from her son’s old armour. Valdrin also imbued Calen’s armour with Jotnar runes that allow him to bind the armour together and lessen his weak points.

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As Calen and the others sit in the Eyrie, Dann continues his search for a valúr. He tries his hand at poetry, which is markedly better than his whittling. As they are all laughing and joking, Baldon arrives and says that Ella is at the gates of Aravell. Calen flies out on Valerys and he and Ella reunite for the first time since leaving The Glade. Calen can’t believe his eyes. Ella is then reunited with Haem. With all the reunions happening, Therin admits to Calen that both he and Aeson had known Ella was alive for months. Calen is furious. He confronts Aeson, and they have an extremely heated argument, Valerys’s fury flowing through Calen. 

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Calen leaves on Valerys to fly to Dracaldryr and take Pellenor Dambren up on his offer. He has utterly lost faith in Aeson and wants to speak to the Dragonguard to find out more about what happened in the past and to help him decide on his path forward.  Haem confronts Aeson and threatens him, saying that if he ever lies to Calen again, or tries to manipulate him, Haem will kill Aeson. Aeson then sees Farda.

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Calen and Valerys arrive at Dracaldryr and find Tivar and her soulkin, Avandeer. Calen talks to Tivar and learns that Pellenor is dead. She takes them to the Üvrian un’Aldryr – Cradle of Fire – where he finds hundreds of dragon eggs. Tivar explains her story and how Fane began to turn The Order against itself. She tells him the side of things that he has never heard before, and that she believes Eltoar truly wishes to find a way back. While there, the Blood Moon rises and Calen mounts Valerys to rush back to Aravell. 

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With the Blood Moon in the sky, Fane and Garramon stand upon a roof in the destroyed city of Ilnaen as they prepare to try and bring Efialtír’s Chosen across the veil between worlds. They talk about Rist, and his growing power, and Fane muses that Rist reminds Garramon of his son – Malyn, who was beheaded for betraying the fledgling empire. Eighty thousand Lorian soldiers occupy Ilnaen, while Brother Drakus Pirnil inscribes blood runes into the flesh of willing volunteers, using Kiralla Holflower’s notes as a foundation for his continued research. Pirnil treats and discards the volunteers like speciments, not humans.

 

Calen returns to Aravell to find Jornmu, Ilkya, and Voranur astride their soulkin –  Hrothmundar, Eríthan, and Seleraine – are burning paths through the woodland towards Aravell, while thousands of Lorian soldiers march through the ashes.

Calen lands in Alura. Ella is furious that he left, as is Dann. Tarmon tells him that Argona has been burned to ashes. Ella learns that Farda killed her mam – Freis Bryer – Ella rakes her claws across his face but is stopped from killing him while he is bound in chains.

Convergences of the Taint begin cropping up all across Epheria and Kallinvar and his knights set out through the Rift to do their duty.

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The battle for Aravell rages, the dense forest canopy minimising the Dragonguard’s impact. Dann, Alea, Lyrei, Ella, Faenir, Tanner, Yana, and the others draw the Lorian forces towards the Nithrandír who come to life to fulfil their ancient oaths. The Níthrandír carve through the Lorian soldiers. Calen and his group, along with Aeson and the Rakina, lead charges into the Lorian flanks. A mage attempts to burn Calen out, but with Valerys’s power, Calen is far stronger. Chora Sarn, Atara, and the other Rakina come to Calen’s aid. Just as the battle appears to be turning in the defenders’ favour, the Dragonguard pour dragonfire over the woodland, uncaring about how many of their own soldiers will be killed. 

Meanwhile, in Ilnaen, Rist watches as the ritual to bring the Chosen across the veil begins, the runemarked volunteers lifting into the air, and a black tear opening in the fabric of the world.

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When the tear in the veil opens, Kallinvar realises that Fane Mortem had been purposely distracting the knights, and sending them all over the continent to thin their numbers and tire them. They charge through the Rift to Ilnaen.

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Back in Aravell, Dann, Alea, Lyrei, Baldon, Ella, Tanner, and Yana survive the dragonfire and stumble through the ash and bodies. A Fade emerges through the flames. The Fade kills both Alea and Baldon. When the creature grabs Dann by the through, Calen charges through the fire and ash and hurls a spear into the creature’s face and saves Dann. Calen battles the Fade, but it is Dann who makes the killing blow. With the Dragonguard pouring fire down over the woodland and the city, and the Glamour now gone, Calen makes the choice to stand and fight so as to buy the others more time to win the battle on the ground. He mounts Valerys and flies to meet the Dragonguard in the skies, after telling Aeson that Draleid are meant to be guardians, not survivors.

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In Ilnaen, Rist and the others battle against the Uraks who have swarmed the city. The Rift opens up and the Knights of Achyron charge into the fray, Soulblades in hand. One of the knights kills Sister Anila, and cleaves Magnus’s arm. The ritual is completed and the Chosen cross through the veil and into the bodies of their hosts. Silver armour, akin to the knights’ Sentinel Armour, flows over their bodies and they wield crimson Soulblades. The knights take heavy losses and Tarron sacrifices himself to close the tear in the veil. The knights retreat.

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In Aravell, Calen and Valerys face the three Dragonguard. He evades them, but is no match for all three together. When all seems lost, Tivar and Avandeer appear over the Darkwood and come to Calen and Valerys’s aid. Even still it isn’t enough, and Avandeer falls towards the city.

 

Seeing that Calen is losing, Ella reaches out to the Rakina Dragons through Níthianelle. 

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As Calen and Valerys fight valiantly against the Dragonguard, Eríthan swoops in to make the killing blow, but before he can, the Rakina Dragons appear. Ithrax rips the silver dragon from the sky and tears its head from its neck.

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In the battle that follows, Calen and Valerys manage to kill Horthmundar and Jormun, but Voranur and Seleraine escape, and of the Rakina dragons that flew to Calen’s aid, only Varthear survives. 

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With the Dragonguard no longer in the battle, Calen makes the decision to burn thousands of Lorians alive in Valerys’s dragonfire to end the battle and save the city, and all those he loves within.

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Ella has paid dearly and lies in a comatose state, her eyes a pale white from edge to edge, with Aneera stating that Ella’s mind has fragmented.

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With the battle over, Rokka, stands beside Eríthan’s severed head, looking down over Aravell.

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In Valtara, the forces of House Ateres have gathered themselves, and Dayne is finally reunited with Belina Louna.

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Beneath the mountain of Lodhar, Kira and Elenya sit with the newly elected king of Azmar – Lakar – who was raised to power after Pulroan’s death. They are eating and talking about Volkur, when King Hoffnar reveals that he is alive. Hoffnar tosses Mirlak’s severed head onto the table and brutally kills both Elenya and Lakar before taking Kira captive.

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After the battle for Aravell, Haem is forced to return to the Temple of Achyron while Calen watches over Ella. King Silmiryn was slain during the fighting. Atara and the other Rakina approach Calen and say that they will stand and fight.

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In the far north, Salara Ithan, Queen Vandrien, and other elves of Numillion have attacked Dead Rock’s Hold and freed the elves enslaved in the iron mines there. They kill the priests of Efialtír, as well as the Divine, Radavan Harten. A druid with a runemarked collar – Boud – steps forward and makes the skies rain on command, and the elves prepare to take back everything that was taken from them.