Contents
Chapter 52
Overview
Zevander endures a hostile encounter with General Loyce, secures the drunken Prince Dorjan, and shadows mage Anatolis during Princess Calisza’s Becoming. Interrogation reveals Cadavros lives, a Mortasia septomir vein discovered by Moros, Magestroli orders from Akmyrios, and that Rykaia was baited. A failsafe spell kills Anatolis, and a villagers’ uprising erupts, forcing Zevander to send Maevyth, Rykaia, and Torryn to flee while he turns back for Dorjan.
Summary
Zevander, unsettled by Maevyth’s allure and a run-in with General Loyce, drinks despite his vigilance. General Loyce taunts and threatens, triggering Zevander’s rage and old trauma, but he restrains himself to avoid igniting a war. Kazhimyr and Ravezio back his play from the shadows.
As King Sagaerin announces Princess Calisza’s pairing with Captain Avith, Zevander ushers a drunken Dorjan to a private tryst and wards the chamber with his conjured scorpion. Returning to the hall, Zevander notes Anatolis slipping away and discreetly signals Maevyth to follow.
Outside, masked and cloaked, Zevander corners Anatolis, cloaks them in fog, and coerces answers with a burrowing scorpion. Anatolis admits he was a Mortasian scribe sent by the Magestroli; a septomir vein was discovered there by Moros. Cadavros still lives; the Magestroli lied at Akmyrios’s command. Rumors speak of mutations in Mortasia. He confirms Aleysia emerged with Moros and reveals Rykaia’s exposure was engineered, using false names to trigger her mind‑reading.
When Zevander presses why the king spared Cadavros, a failsafe spell detonates inside Anatolis, destroying his organs. He dies before revealing more. Zevander pockets the mage’s powder and prepares to depart.
Thunderous clamor erupts as villagers attack the castle, fires leaping the walls. Amid chaos, Zevander carries Maevyth inside, finds Rykaia and Torryn, and orders them to the west tower to cleave back to Eidolon. He stays behind to locate Dorjan as the uprising floods the corridors.
Who Appears
- Zevander RydainnPOV; confronts General Loyce, secures Dorjan, interrogates Anatolis, learns key secrets, orders Maevyth’s escape during the uprising.
- MaevythMasked at the Becoming; follows Zevander to confront Anatolis; learns of Aleysia and Mortasia; flees on Zevander’s command.
- AnatolisMage and former Mortasian scribe; reveals Cadavros lives, Mortasia vein, and Rykaia’s setup; dies by internal kill spell.
- General LoyceSolassion general and Zevander’s abusive past captor; provokes and threatens Maevyth; Zevander nearly kills her.
- Prince DorjanDrunk and resentful; escorted to his lover by Zevander and warded by a conjured scorpion as chaos brews.
- RykaiaZevander’s sister; disguise seen through; target of a mage setup; sent to cleave back to Eidolon.
- TorrynAlly guarding the crowd; escorts Rykaia and Maevyth to escape as the villagers attack.
- King SagaerinAnnounces Calisza’s Becoming pairing with Captain Avith amid growing tensions.
- Princess CaliszaUndergoes the Becoming; paired with Captain Avith as the hall watches.
- Captain AvithSolassion captain chosen to couple with Princess Calisza during the ceremony.
- KazhimyrAlly disguised as servant; subtly supports Zevander after the confrontation with Loyce.
- RavezioAlly who positions to counter Solassion guards during Zevander’s standoff with Loyce.