Chapter Twenty-Eight

In the Church library, August's illness reframes the investigation. Bastian explains that he only confirmed the King's condition that day after bribing a physician's assistant for records, then searched August's study for evidence about the dead villages and found only the book on transubstantiation. Lore, Gabe, Bastian, and Malcolm consider whether August could be involved in the mass deaths, possibly by using forbidden theory to shift his sickness onto others, though they cannot explain the method or motive.

Gabe insists they should tell Anton, arguing that Anton may be trying to stop August and that Kirythea remains the simplest explanation for the attacks. Lore counters that Anton obtained the transubstantiation book and that her previous body-raisings may have been manipulated, since she has only raised corpses chosen by Anton and August. The group decides they need an unchosen body, while Malcolm accepts his role in the conspiracy and assigns everyone research tasks.

Lore tries to comfort Gabe, who admits he wants the truth to end in a way he can live with, especially if Anton might not be a villain. Lore falls asleep in the library and dreams again of white sand, blue water, and an indistinct figure whose pull on her heart forces smoke from her chest. Bastian wakes her in time for Alienor's tea, gives her directions to his apartments, and leaves to return the stolen book to August's study.

On the way, Lore encounters Severin Bellegarde inspecting tapestries while holding a folded paper. Bellegarde presses Lore about attending the eclipse ball and reveals that another village was struck that afternoon. August interrupts, and Lore secretly overhears August and Bellegarde discussing a group being processed, bindings that seem to work, and August needing to try something before they know for certain.

After August and Bellegarde leave, Lore searches behind the tapestry Bellegarde had guarded and finds a pinned note containing only the number 75. She continues to Bastian's magnificent apartments, where Alienor introduces her to Danielle and Brigitte. During tea, the women discuss court gossip, Gabriel and Alienor's impossible past, Danielle's wish to marry a commoner named Luc, and Luc's well-paid nighttime cargo work for a new dockside company, a detail that troubles Lore.

Bastian returns after safely replacing the book and sends Alienor away so he can speak privately with Lore. Lore tells Bastian about Bellegarde's hidden note, and Bastian explains its significance: seventy-five is exactly the number of people killed in the newest village attack.