The Legendborn Cycle, #1
Legendborn
by Tracy Deonn
Contents
Chapter 9
Overview
Bree infiltrates the Lodge and forces Nick to hear the truth about Bree’s mother’s death, including Bree’s recovered memory of a Merlin erasing what happened at the hospital. Nick reveals that Merlins can act ruthlessly to protect the Code, making Bree’s suspicion that a Merlin caused or covered up her mother’s death terrifyingly plausible.
When Nick explains that only Legendborn can compel answers from the Regents, Bree chooses to join the Order as a Page despite the danger of being exposed as an Unoathed Onceborn who can See aether and resist mesmer. Nick, after warning Bree that the Order may try to contain or eliminate Bree, publicly claims Bree as his Page and decides to reclaim his title.
Summary
Bree gains entry to the Lodge by telling Sarah that Nick asked Bree to meet him there. Sarah, visibly excited and hopeful, treats Bree like a guest but says Bree cannot enter the great room without a sponsor, then leaves Bree in a salon while Sarah calls Nick.
Alone, Bree studies the Lodge’s wealth and history. Bree sees portraits of Jonathan Davis and Dr. Martin Davis, connecting Nick to a founding family and realizing the Order is tied to Nick’s father. Bree also finds a plaque naming the Carolina chapter’s British founders and noting their political power, wealth, and plantation ownership, which deepens Bree’s sense of the Order’s old, elite roots.
Nick arrives furious and tries to remove Bree before others arrive, especially Sel. Bree stops Nick by revealing that Bree’s mother died three months earlier in a hit-and-run and that Bree has recovered a memory of a Merlin posing as a police officer at the hospital and using mesmer on Bree and Bree’s father. Bree asks Nick for help uncovering what the Merlin hid.
Nick explains that Merlins are the Order’s powerful sorcerers, assigned to protect Onceborns, close Gates, hunt Shadowborn, and preserve the Code of secrecy. Nick says Bree’s mother’s death does not fit normal Shadowborn patterns unless a mission went wrong or the Code was threatened. When Bree asks whether a Merlin would kill someone, Nick reluctantly confirms that a Merlin could.
Bree wants Nick to make the Regents answer for the Merlin’s actions, but Nick explains that only Legendborn have enough status to compel Regents, and Nick renounced his formal title. Hearing people arrive outside, Bree realizes the Order is recruiting and decides that if outsiders cannot get answers, Bree will join as a Page and try to become Legendborn.
Nick warns that Bree is uniquely dangerous to the Order because Bree is an Unoathed Onceborn who can See aether and resist mesmer, which could make the Regents or Merlins contain or eliminate Bree. Bree refuses to leave, driven by guilt over Bree’s last angry words to Bree’s mother and the need for the truth. When Fitz enters and asks if Bree is Nick’s Page, Nick finally supports Bree’s plan, claiming Bree as his and saying it is time to reclaim his title.
Who Appears
- Bree MatthewsInfiltrates the Lodge, reveals her mother’s death, and decides to join the Order for answers.
- Nick DavisExplains Merlin authority, warns Bree of danger, and reluctantly claims Bree as his Page.
- SarahLodge greeter who admits Bree as Nick’s supposed guest and calls Nick to the salon.
- FitzOrder member who interrupts Nick and Bree, prompting Nick to claim Bree publicly.
- Bree’s motherHer death and hidden circumstances drive Bree’s confrontation and decision to join the Order.
- SelAbsent but feared; Nick warns Sel could expose Bree to protect his Merlin post.