The Folk of the Air, #2
The Wicked King
by Holly Black
Contents
Chapter 12
Overview
The Undersea formally confronts Cardan at the Hunter’s Moon revel, delivering Queen Orlagh’s ultimatum that he marry into the sea or face escalating consequences. Cardan rejects the threat publicly and asserts royal authority, but the demand forces an emergency Council response.
Madoc then tries to exploit Jude’s humiliation by urging her to betray Cardan and join him against the Undersea. Jude refuses to submit to Madoc’s control, yet she agrees to block the marriage alliance, revealing a temporary overlap between her interests and his.
Summary
Jude rushes back to the revel after seeing selkies approach, warns a guard that the Undersea is coming, and orders the protection of King Cardan. The guard obeys without hesitation, and Cardan reacts with alarm when knights move around the throne, recalling the violence at Dain’s coronation.
The selkies and Gentry of the Undersea enter the grove in wet finery. A gray-skinned envoy says Queen Orlagh has sent a message for the High King, and a girl in blue recites a formal threat: the Sea demands a bridegroom and the Land a bride, warning that repeated rejection will bring blood, clay, and the loss of Cardan’s crown. Cardan refuses to be cowed, mocks the message, and commands the revel to continue, sounding fully like the High King.
After the Undersea guests join the dancing, Jude notes that Nicasia and Dulcamara are missing and that Locke is enjoying himself among the selkies. Cardan summons Jude to the throne and orders her to assemble the Living Council in his palace rooms. Jude obeys, then realizes with discomfort that Cardan gave an order and she followed it.
At the palace, Jude sends pages to gather the Council and sends Snapdragon to have her spies locate Nicasia. After washing away the filth and humiliation of the revel, Jude finds a note from Madoc ordering her to the war room immediately. Jude decides to go because Madoc cannot want Cardan to marry into the Undersea if Madoc still hopes to advance Oak, and she sees a chance to learn his intentions.
In the war room, Madoc speaks carefully to Jude and acknowledges her as a serious player by showing that she now has a carved figure on his strategy board. Madoc suggests Jude may regret serving Cardan after being publicly humiliated, reminds Jude that she is not bound by oaths as the Folk are, and urges her to betray Cardan. Madoc explains that Orlagh consolidated the Undersea through murder and would likely use Nicasia’s marriage to Cardan to extend absolute rule over the land.
Madoc asks Jude to return to his side before he moves against her in earnest, but Jude resists, accusing Madoc of tolerating years of her humiliation when it served him. Randalin interrupts to say the Council meeting is beginning. Before Jude leaves, Madoc asks only that she use her power as seneschal to block any alliance with the Undersea, and Jude agrees because that goal aligns with her own plans for Nicasia, Oak, and Elfhame.
Who Appears
- Jude DuarteWarns of the Undersea, gathers the Council, and resists Madoc’s attempt to recruit her.
- CardanFaces Orlagh’s envoys, rejects their threat, and commands Jude to summon the Living Council.
- MadocWarns Jude about Orlagh’s ambitions and pressures her to betray Cardan.
- Queen OrlaghAbsent Undersea ruler whose envoys demand a marriage alliance and threaten the crown.
- Undersea envoyGray-skinned messenger who requests audience and presents Orlagh’s ultimatum to Cardan.
- Undersea girlRecites the singsong threat demanding union between Sea and Land.
- LockeObserves the threat from near the throne and then dances with selkies.
- RandalinInterrupts Jude and Madoc to summon them to the Living Council meeting.
- SnapdragonReceives Jude’s order to have spies investigate Nicasia’s disappearance.