Chapter 13

On the eve of entering Cavallon, Owen dresses Una in armor for the storied death he expects, while Una confesses her part in burning the Black Bastion at Yvanne’s command, exposing the hollowness and cost of her “victory.” Owen insists death can redeem her legend, but when the moment comes, he breaks from the script, warning that traitors wait inside.

Despite Owen’s plea, Una kisses him, then charges through the gates. With Owen’s strange booming weapon silencing archers, Una cuts down the ambushers. Wounded but standing, she tends Hen, then leans on Owen into the Keep, where Una insists on facing Yvanne.

In the throne room, Una presents the grail. Yvanne drinks and is miraculously restored, confirming the object’s power. As Hen screams outside, Ancel bursts in and strikes; Owen steps between them and is only shallowly wounded. Una instantly kills Ancel when he yields to her with a weary apology, showing he is not the mastermind.

As Owen tends Una, hidden traitors knife her with lethal precision. Chaos erupts; the crown and grail are stolen. Dying in Owen’s arms, Una remembers their repeated, cyclical tragedy and bids him “wait for me beneath the yew tree.” She dies smiling, as Owen weeps.