Throne of Glass, #3
Heir of Fire
by Sarah J. Maas
Contents
Chapter 34
Overview
Celaena’s grief over Nehemia erupts when an Eyllwe knife reminds her of what she has lost, causing her to wound Emrys, Malakai, and Luca with cruel words. Emrys confronts Rowan and reveals his connection to Evalin Ashryver, forcing Rowan to see Celaena not merely as a difficult trainee but as a broken heir who may represent hope for a better world.
Rowan responds by designing a dangerous lesson: Celaena must rescue Luca from a frozen lake while in Fae form, learning that her fire reacts to her fear and that she can master it. Celaena succeeds in controlling a precise thread of flame, but the chapter ends with a new threat beneath the ice.
Summary
Celaena wakes numb after Rowan’s rejection and moves through breakfast in a dissociated haze. In the kitchen, Emrys proudly shows her a gold-hilted knife Malakai bought from an Eyllwe merchant. The weapon reminds Celaena of Nehemia, and Celaena’s numbness breaks into rage and grief.
Celaena lashes out at Emrys, Malakai, and Luca, saying she does not care about their lives, stories, knife, or kingdom. Luca and Malakai move protectively in front of Emrys, and Celaena recognizes their family bond before leaving in bitter laughter, having wounded the people who had been kind to her.
After spending the night tattooing fallen names onto Gavriel, Rowan enters the kitchen and finds Emrys grieving. Emrys challenges Rowan about how Rowan has been treating Celaena and reveals that Evalin Ashryver once lived and worked at Mistward, fought for demi-Fae rights, and was Emrys’s friend. Emrys says everyone who knew Evalin recognized Celaena immediately and urges Rowan to help her because Celaena has no hope left and could offer “a better world.”
Celaena walks to a lakeshore and breaks down completely, hearing the remembered voice of her mother call her Fireheart. Celaena admits she is lost and does not know the way. Rowan joins her, does not press her to talk, and instead takes her on a hard hike to a mountain cave, saying he has begun to understand her.
Inside the cave, Rowan reveals an enormous frozen lake with Luca chained on a blanket at its center. Rowan explains that Celaena can contain her power in human form but loses control when fear or agitation triggers her magic, so she must shift into Fae form and rescue Luca. Angry and afraid, Celaena crosses the groaning ice while calming her rising fire, reflecting on her childhood fear of burning people, books, or even Orynth itself.
Rowan tells Celaena she is in control and the keeper of her own fate. Celaena reaches Luca, carefully channels only a thin thread of fire, and melts enough ice to free the chain without drowning or burning him. As Celaena prepares to bring Luca back, Celaena sees a giant red eye staring up from beneath the ice.
Who Appears
- Celaena Sardothien / Aelin GalathyniusBreaks under grief, lashes out, then begins mastering her fire during Rowan’s lake trial.
- Rowan WhitethornConfronted by Emrys, he creates a harsh training exercise to force Celaena’s control.
- LucaChained on the frozen lake as bait and stakes for Celaena’s control lesson.
- EmrysHurt by Celaena’s outburst; reveals his friendship with Evalin and challenges Rowan.
- MalakaiBuys Emrys an Eyllwe knife and protects him when Celaena lashes out.
- Evalin AshryverRemembered by Emrys as a friend who fought for demi-Fae rights at Mistward.
- Nehemia YtgerHer memory and perceived lies trigger Celaena’s grief and rage.
- GavrielLeaves after Rowan spends the night tattooing names of Gavriel’s fallen men.