Contents
97 West
Overview
Glorian gives birth amid battle, is carried back to Hollow Crag, and prepares to surrender to save her people. Wulf flees with newborn Sabran, unleashing unexpected starlight as a comet appears. As the prophesied star-rain falls, Fýredel’s fire fails and it withdraws, vowing to return, ending the immediate siege.
Summary
On Cenning Moor, newly delivered and bleeding, Queen Glorian fights in a bloodied shift until a rider carries her back to Hollow Crag. Fevered and exhausted, she resolves to protect Inys and her people as Fýredel’s summoning voice reaches her.
Fleeing with his infant daughter Sabran, Wulf races toward an ancient barrow while three wyverns pursue. A sudden comet crowns the sky, and an icy pain sparks in Wulf’s wrist; instinctively he raises his hand and releases a white bolt that maims a wyvern, then hides with Sabran inside the tomb.
Glorian arms herself, rejects her ladies’ pleas, and walks onto the moor to accept Fýredel’s bargain—her surrender for her people’s escape. Fýredel promises not death but transformation through deep-earth fire, and Glorian steels herself for torment.
The comet’s tail splits; a rain of starlight descends. As Fýredel rears to burn her, its flame collapses into wind. Naming Glorian “bearer of the star,” Fýredel proclaims they will return when the fire rises again and another wears her crown, then takes wing. Across Inys, the Dreadmount’s creatures howl as the threat recedes.
Who Appears
- Glorian ShieldheartNewly crowned Queen of Inys; gives birth, prepares to surrender to save her people, confronts Fýredel as the comet’s starlight falls.
- WulfFlees with newborn Sabran; unleashes a bolt of starlight at pursuing wyverns and hides the heir in an ancient barrow.
- FýredelWyrm besieging Hollow Crag; bargains for Glorian’s surrender, then loses its fire under the star-rain and withdraws, vowing return.
- SabranNewborn heir of Inys; carried by Wulf to safety, chills with the starlight surge as the comet appears.
- MarianGlorian’s grandmother; begs to go in Glorian’s place and is charged to care for Sabran.
- AdelaLady-in-waiting; weeps and pleads with Glorian not to surrender.
- JulainLady-in-waiting; affirms Glorian’s worth beyond duty, part of the emotional farewell.
- HelisentLady-in-waiting; embraces Glorian in a final parting before the parley.
- FlorellCourtier who leads the ladies away as Glorian goes to meet Fýredel.