Throne of Glass, #7
Kingdom of Ash
by Sarah J. Maas
Contents
Chapter 109
Overview
Morath’s second army reaches Orynth before the defenders can regroup, turning a hard-won reprieve into near-certain defeat. Erawan and Maeve appear together at the head of the host, making the battle’s stakes unmistakable: the fall of Orynth is imminent.
With Ansel sent inside and the gate sealed behind her, Aelin remains alone outside the city despite having almost no magic left. Her decision to stand before Maeve and Erawan transforms despair into a defining image of queenship and sacrifice as Terrasen recognizes that its queen has returned to defend it.
Summary
Chaol and Dorian ride back through Orynth’s southern gate with the khaganate forces, exhausted from hours of fighting. As they head toward the castle, a warning horn sounds: Morath’s hidden army is speeding toward the city, refusing to give Orynth time to recover. Chaol, Dorian, and the soldiers turn back toward the walls to prepare for another assault.
Outside the southern gate, Aelin rests briefly beside a dead wyvern with Ansel of Briarcliff, whose deep arm wound is healed enough for movement. Aelin is nearly spent, with her magic almost gone and her body failing, but she sends the healer to others and gets Ansel onto a Darghan rider’s horse. After Ansel passes into Orynth, the southern gate shuts behind her, leaving Aelin outside with the remaining soldiers and Morath’s darkness advancing.
Aelin realizes the plan has failed and that she may have doomed them, but she does not retreat. With Rowan absent from sight but alive through the mating bond, and Fenrys and Lorcan still breathing through the blood oath, Aelin steadies herself before her home. She recalls the story of the princess who loved her kingdom, framing this moment as the culmination of the long road back to Terrasen.
Inside the castle, Yrene pauses her healing and climbs to the battlements with Elide to understand why the army has withdrawn. They see the new host approaching, with Valg princesses and kharankui among its ranks. Elide recognizes the darkness and its meaning, and Yrene understands that Erawan is present.
Lysandra appears on the battlements in human form and reports that Aedion and Rowan have ordered an immediate evacuation for anyone who can flee. Darrow reveals there is no escape route that will save the children and elderly in time. As panic spreads, Erawan and Maeve emerge at the head of the army, personally arriving to oversee Orynth’s destruction.
Then Evangeline spots Aelin standing alone before the sealed southern gate, facing Maeve and Erawan. Lysandra breaks down because Aelin has almost no magic left, but Aelin raises her sword and shield as flames ignite along them. The sight silences the city and sends a cry across Orynth: Terrasen’s queen has come home to hold the gate.
Who Appears
- Aelin Galathyniusexhausted queen who sends Ansel inside and stands alone before Orynth’s sealed gate.
- Lysandrareturns from the skies, relays the evacuation order, and despairs over Aelin’s weakness.
- Yrene Towerspauses healing to assess the battlefield and realizes Erawan has arrived.
- Elide Lochanrecognizes the darkness over Morath’s army and presses Darrow for an escape route.
- Chaol Westfallexhausted rider returning to Orynth who redirects toward the walls as Morath advances.
- Dorian Havilliardweary king riding with Chaol back into Orynth as the warning horn sounds.
- Ansel of Briarcliffwounded queen healed enough to be sent safely through the southern gate.
- DarrowOrynth leader on the battlements, stunned by the army and unable to offer escape.
- Evangelineyoung girl on the battlements who first points out Aelin before the gate.
- ErawanValg king who appears at the head of Morath’s army to oversee Orynth’s fall.
- MaeveValg queen who arrives beside Erawan, intensifying the defenders’ terror and despair.