Chapter 4

At the start of the Culling, Aris considers sprinting for a horse, but archers in the trees and half the field turning to fight cut runners down. Enders wield a Starside-steel–coated chain, slicing through people and trees, forcing Aris and Kira to move under collapsing trunks while suppressing Aris’s grief-driven distractions.

With archers briefly silenced by the Enders’ carnage, Aris and Kira race across the shattered forest. When Kira falls, scalp bloodied by an attacker ripping out her hair, Aris turns back and engages the man from the cart—Waldron. Leveraging Stellan’s training and superior metal, Aris repeatedly fractures Waldron’s blade and gains control of the fight, choosing speed over killing him to reach the horses.

Aris hauls Kira onward and climbs to the ridge where nearly all mounts are taken. They spot two remaining horses and, despite challengers lunging to dislodge them, Aris and Kira each mount up. Around them, Cadoc rides shielded by House Bolter warriors; the Enders and Zane also secure horses, while cries from the forest fade.

Harlan Raker, late to the hill, appears to be stranded—until he hurls his massive sword, which transfixes Waldron. Raker recalls the blade with magic, cuts back through Waldron, and mounts the now-riderless horse. The display of a returning enchanted weapon stuns onlookers as survivors turn toward the king. Zane sums it up: “Welcome to the Culling.”