Throne of Glass, #3
Heir of Fire
by Sarah J. Maas
Contents
Chapter 66
Overview
Manon is ordered to take half the witch host to Morath, placing her and the Thirteen directly under the duke’s war command. The move shifts the witches from training and internal power struggles into active readiness for the king’s campaign.
As Manon leads the host south, Asterin’s joy in flying contrasts with Manon’s rigid denial of feeling after the Crochan’s words. Manon frames obedience to the king as a necessary step toward the Blackbeaks’ ultimate goal: reclaiming their lost homeland.
Summary
Manon is summoned by her grandmother and learns that the king has ordered the Wing Leader to Morath. Manon must bring half the host to serve the duke and remain ready for battle, while the rest of the witches stay in the north under Iskra’s command.
Manon asks where her grandmother will be, but the question angers the Matron, who sees Manon’s curiosity as overreach. Because they have not discussed the Crochan’s death and Manon understands the warning behind it, Manon lowers her head and claims she only does not wish to be separated from her grandmother.
The Matron calls Manon a liar and says she will remain behind for now, though she will come to Morath in the summer. When Manon asks when the host departs, her grandmother reveals that they leave the next day.
That night, Manon leads the witches south along the Fangs under cover of darkness. The host flies in shifting ranks and keeps to the shadows so no one can count their numbers, preparing to cross Oakwald and then continue hidden above the clouds toward Morath.
Asterin and Sorrel fly beside Manon. Asterin visibly delights in the freedom of the air, but Manon refuses to share that joy, reminding herself that she has work to do and rejecting the Crochan’s claim that she has a heart or soul. Manon fixes on the king’s war as the path to eventually reclaiming the witches’ broken homeland.
Who Appears
- Manon BlackbeakWing Leader ordered to Morath; leads half the host while suppressing doubt and emotion.
- Manon’s grandmotherBlackbeak Matron who relays the king’s orders and keeps Manon under threat.
- Asterin BlackbeakManon’s cousin and flanking rider, openly joyful while flying toward Morath.
- Sorrel BlackbeakMember of the Thirteen who flies beside Manon and watches the skies.
- Iskra YellowlegsWitch commander named to monitor the north with the remaining host.