Contents
40 West
Overview
Glorian endures fever and confides shared visions with Queen Sabran before Sabran and King Bardholt depart for a political wedding. At sea, Sabran plans alliance marriages and Bardholt orders Wulf to sanctarian scrutiny. A wyrm descends from the fog, immolating the Conviction and killing Sabran and Bardholt, throwing Inys into crisis.
Summary
Glorian lies ill with a fever first mistaken for sheepsbane or throttle, then called winter gripe. Before departing for Vattengard, King Bardholt comforts Glorian with a future dream of family unity, while Queen Sabran bids farewell and admits she has armored Glorian through severity. Mother and daughter reveal they both experience vivid, guiding dreams and a voice; Sabran warns Glorian to keep them secret and leaves Florell as her support.
Aboard the Conviction, Sabran and Bardholt share intimacy and statecraft. Sabran weighs alliance plans: Magnaust Vatten to wed Princess Idrega and, later, Glorian to wed Therico. She urges Bardholt to distance Wulf from Glorian amid rising suspicion, while Bardholt dreams of converting the South and even seizing Yikala. Sabran reopens communion with her “higher self,” seeking divine counsel for her daughter.
On deck, Wulf works in freezing fog and speaks with Vell and Regny. Bardholt privately orders Wulf, after the wedding, to visit Rathdun Sanctuary so sanctarians can attest he bears no curse, hoping to silence rumors after Glorian’s fainting spells occurred near him. Wulf, terrified of witchfinders, reels at the risk to his place and future.
Drumlike beats draw all eyes as a colossal, hawk-shaped wyrm bursts from the fog. Without words, the beast exhales consuming fire. Bardholt steps before Sabran, and they die together in the first blast. The deck becomes an inferno; sails collapse, crew burn, and nearby ships scream through the smoke. Wulf, burning and half-blind, tries to save Regny from tar and flame as embers fall and the wyrm wheels back, forcing him to choose water over a witch’s death by fire.
Who Appears
- Queen Sabran VI BerethnetSails on the Conviction, confides shared visions, plans alliances, urges caution about Wulf; dies when the wyrm immolates the ship.
- King Bardholt HróthComforts Glorian, debates Wulf’s reputation, orders Wulf to Rathdun; dreams of conquering Yikala; dies shielding Sabran in the wyrm’s fire.
- Wulfert GlennOrdered to sanctarian scrutiny after the wedding; survives initial blast, tries to save Regny amid the burning Conviction.
- GlorianFeverish in Drouthwick, shares dream-voice experiences with Sabran, vows future strength as queen while her parents depart.
- The wyrm (The Nameless One, as Wulf believes)Emerges from fog over the Ashen Sea and incinerates the Conviction, killing Sabran and Bardholt.
- RegnyArcher aboard the Conviction; caught in burning tar as Wulf struggles to save her.
- VellSeafarer working with Wulf; likely perishes in the conflagration on the Conviction.
- Doctor ForthardDiagnoses Glorian’s illness as winter gripe.
- FlorellLeft by Sabran to assist Glorian during her illness and the royal absence.
- Lord RobartNamed as the conduit for Glorian’s letters to Sabran while the court travels.
- Magnaust VattenGroom awaiting marriage to Princess Idrega; central to Sabran’s alliance plans.
- Princess Idrega VetaldaBride-to-be in Vattengard; seen by Sabran as capable of managing the Vatten.
- ThericoYscali match Sabran intends for Glorian to secure Virtudom.
- Rozaria VetaldaBacker of the Vatten–Vetalda alliance, offering kin to strengthen Virtudom.