The Broken Blades Trilogy, #3
Three Shattered Souls
by Mai Corland
Contents
Chapter Sixty-Four
Overview
Aeri, Mikail, and allies confront King Joon aboard ship to seize the Flaming Sword. Hana reveals her true allegiance by snatching the Immortal Crown, enabling Mikail to behead Joon. Aeri’s relic kills the attacking guards and Calier, but Hana is mortally wounded and dies calling for Sora. A paternity reveal about Euyn reframes Joon’s lineage.
Summary
On the Strait of Teeth, Aeri faces her father, King Joon, who wears the Immortal Crown and carries the Flaming Sword of Gaya. Seeking to avoid a bloodbath, Aeri offers to leave if Joon surrenders the sword. Joon rejects her, and a tense exchange reveals Euyn was not Joon’s son, undermining Joon’s claim to familial loyalty.
As Joon signals for action, Hana unexpectedly releases the alarm rope and snatches the Immortal Crown from his head, silently aligning with Aeri and Mikail. Mikail charges and strikes, nearly decapitating Joon. Joon collapses dead, the crown separated from him.
Calier turns on Mikail from behind. Reacting, Aeri invokes her relic: “Turn enemy hearts to gold,” projecting a golden aura around Mikail. The two palace guards and Calier fall, stricken, their attacks halted as they die.
In the chaos, a guard’s thrust has already pierced Hana. Aeri realizes she hesitated a heartbeat too long. Hana bleeds out, the crown slipping from her hand, and dies whispering “Sora,” revealing where her heart lay.
The confrontation ends with Joon dead, Calier and the guards fallen, and Hana lost. The victory secures the path to the Flaming Sword but inflicts a devastating cost, while the Euyn revelation further fractures the royal narrative.
Who Appears
- AeriNarrator; negotiates for the sword, uses relic to kill attackers and save Mikail, mourns Hana.
- Hana (Zahara)Secretly aids Aeri by seizing the Immortal Crown; fatally stabbed; dies whispering for Sora.
- MikailSeizes the opening Hana creates and beheads King Joon; survives Calier’s betrayal.
- King JoonWears the Immortal Crown; rejects Aeri’s offer; is beheaded by Mikail; Euyn not his son.
- CalierTurns on Mikail after Joon’s death; dies when Aeri turns enemy hearts to gold.
- TeoWitnesses the confrontation, seemingly frozen; reacts to Calier’s death.