Throne of Glass, #7
Kingdom of Ash
by Sarah J. Maas
Contents
Chapter 111
Overview
Morath unleashes ilken and Valg princesses, worsening the battle outside Orynth and making the allies’ survival look increasingly unlikely. Elide’s plan sends Yrene, Dorian, and Lysandra toward Erawan, forcing Chaol to accept that Yrene may be the only one who can save them.
Aelin’s dangerous bluff succeeds in splitting Erawan from Maeve, as Erawan flies toward the healers he now fears. The chapter narrows the final conflict into two simultaneous gambles: Yrene against Erawan, and a nearly spent Aelin alone against Maeve.
Summary
On the battlefield outside Orynth, Nesryn and the rukhin face a new threat: ilken sweeping through Morath’s lines and attacking both horses and ruks. Burning arrows can wound them, but the creatures are cunning enough to feign death and continue killing. Nesryn also sees Valg princesses in kharankui bodies waiting at the rear, making Sartaq’s deeper push with Borte, Falkan, and Yeran look like a desperate last stand.
On the city walls, Lysandra lands in ruk form with Yrene and Elide near Chaol and Dorian. Elide explains the plan to use Yrene against Erawan, and Dorian agrees to help without hesitation. Chaol, terrified for Yrene, tries to stop her, but Yrene says farewell with love and resolve; Chaol finally trusts her choice and orders Dorian to keep Yrene safe before Dorian, Elide, and Yrene depart on Lysandra.
In the skies, Manon and Abraxos keep fighting through blood, exhaustion, ilken, Ironteeth, Crochans, and ruks, but Manon sees that Aelin’s arrival has not been enough to turn the tide. On the walls, Lorcan senses Maeve’s Valg presence while fighting beside Rowan, Fenrys, and Aedion. When Rowan and Fenrys recognize that the confrontation beyond the walls has shifted, they head for the gate, and Lorcan silently says farewell to Elide before running after them to face Maeve.
Outside the gate, Aelin continues dueling Maeve and Erawan, relying on swagger and mostly illusory fire because her true power is nearly gone. Aelin keeps trying to divide them by implying that Maeve wants Erawan weakened so healers in the castle can destroy him. Maeve sees the tactic, but Erawan notices movement above the walls and realizes the castle holds powerful healers from the Torre Cesme.
Erawan’s suspicion of Maeve hardens when Aelin confirms the danger, and an ilken suddenly snatches Erawan into the air and carries him toward the city. Aelin conserves her failing strength and lets him go, hoping Yrene and the others can stop him. Maeve remains with Aelin, revealing that she knows Aelin’s secret and attacking again, leaving Aelin alone against the dark queen.
Who Appears
- Aelin GalathyniusFights Maeve and Erawan with dwindling power and successfully bluffs Erawan toward Yrene’s trap.
- Yrene TowersAccepts Elide’s dangerous plan, bids Chaol farewell, and flies toward a confrontation with Erawan.
- Elide LochanPushes the healer strategy and helps bring Yrene and Dorian into action against Erawan.
- Dorian HavilliardAgrees to aid Yrene’s plan and promises Chaol he will protect her with his life.
- Chaol WestfallTries to stop Yrene, then trusts her choice and sends her to save the world.
- MaeveBattles Aelin, resists Aelin’s attempt to divide her from Erawan, and remains to fight alone.
- ErawanGrows suspicious of Maeve after learning powerful healers are in Orynth and flies toward them.
- Nesryn FaliqFights ilken from rukback and witnesses Morath’s devastating new forces on the battlefield.
- SartaqLeads rukhin deeper into enemy lines during a desperate push against Morath.
- Manon BlackbeakFights through the aerial melee with Abraxos and recognizes that victory is slipping away.
- AbraxosCarries Manon unfalteringly through the chaos of ilken, witches, and ruks.
- Lorcan SalvaterreSenses Maeve, says a silent farewell to Elide, and runs toward the gate to fight.
- Rowan WhitethornSenses the change beyond the walls and shifts into hawk form to go to Aelin.
- FenrysInsists they finish the fight together and races toward the gate in wolf form.
- LysandraIn ruk form, carries Yrene, Elide, and Dorian from the walls toward the decisive plan.