Contents
Chapter 11
Overview
Wren settles into the Dagger’s shooting range, mentors a recruit, and briefly clashes socially before visiting captive Xavier with a jammed audio link. She learns Cross was recently imprisoned and evasive about it. Kallister then leads Wren through a portal to a white daggerstone cave and reveals he knew her mother, confirming her true identity.
Summary
After Temple training, Wren goes to the indoor range, where Zak orients her to protocols and gear. She mentors a nervous new recruit, Wells, through his first shots, then spends hours practicing and even beats Zak in a friendly competition, buoying her confidence about contributing to the Uprising.
Linking with Cross to share her good day, Wren senses evasiveness and learns he spent the past week shackled in the stockade as Roe tried to force a confession about her escape. Angry he hid it, Wren demands honesty; Cross apologizes and promises to tell her next time, but Wren doubts him.
At dinner, Hawkins rebuffs Wren, so she joins Saint, Henley, and two women, feeling socially out of place. She then requests to see prisoner Xavier Ford and, with Kallister’s permission, enters his cell after activating a signal jammer. Wren urges Xavier to consider cooperating, arguing Cross can’t rescue him. They discuss Cross’s tendency to downplay injuries, reinforcing Wren’s worry and affection.
Kallister ends the visit and leads Wren outside, up the mountain, into a cave with a narrow glowing slit—an entry to another daggerstone chamber. Inside a white daggerstone sanctuary that mutes powers, he explains blue amplifies while white blocks abilities. He brought her for privacy, then reveals he knew her mother, Marina, and that he recognized Wren’s identity from her photo, calling her Stella.
Who Appears
- Wren (Stella Hess)Protagonist; trains at the range, confronts Cross’s omission, covertly meets Xavier, and learns Kallister knew her mother.
- KallisterLeader; grants Wren access to Xavier, guides her through a portal, explains daggerstone, and reveals he knew Marina.
- Cross ReddenWren’s ally and lover; admits he was stockaded and beaten by Roe, minimizes it, promises more honesty.
- Xavier FordPrisoner; bored but sharp, debates cooperation with Wren under audio jamming, shares history of Cross’s stoicism.
- ZakRange manager; welcomes Wren, explains protocols, and loses a friendly shooting contest to her.
- WellsNew Uprising recruit; nervously learns basic handgun handling from Wren and lands his first hit.
- HawkinsInciter instructor; pointedly refuses to dine with Wren, reinforcing her social isolation.
- EvlynneOperative; brusquely collides with Wren and avoids her in the mess hall.
- NeemaHolding-area guard; grudgingly grants Wren access to Xavier, watches from the desk.
- SaintOperative; offers Wren a seat at dinner when Hawkins rejects her.
- HenleyOperative; dines with Saint and Wren, part of the friendlier group.
- VikkaDagger member; chats with Wren at dinner, jokes about Hawkins being a psycho.
- DarlieDagger member; joins dinner conversation, helps Wren feel slightly more included.