Contents
Chapter 16
Overview
Owen’s hollow acclaim curdles when the grail and crown surface and Sawbridge is fired for trying to destroy the grail she found in Una’s tomb—alongside Owen’s cigarette. Cracking a cipher in his own translation restores Owen’s memories. After learning his Roving origins from his detained father, Owen infiltrates Vivian’s rooms, where she admits centuries of engineered history. Owen triggers the book and returns to Una; they reunite beneath the yew and decide to run together beyond Vivian’s reach.
Summary
Owen returns to Cantford celebrated but empty, confronted by Harrison’s bitterness and frayed sanity. News breaks that the grail and crown have been found. Owen seeks Professor Sawbridge and discovers she led the dig, was detained, and fired for trying to smash the grail. She reveals the relics were in Una’s tomb and hands Owen a Lucky Star cigarette butt found there, implicating him across time.
Shaken, Owen re-reads the Everlasting Cycle as propaganda shaped to power and sees a pattern of tailored myths. With ministers restoring the monarchy and Vivian poised to be crowned Yvanne II, he enciphers his notes, then decodes hidden punctuation in his own published text: a message to “Wait for me, beneath the yew tree.” His memories flood back.
Owen uses a solicitor to visit his detained father, who confesses Owen is the child of a Roving woman killed by Dominion troops; he deserted to save the infant. Accepting this truth, Owen asks how to reach Vivian. A contact guides him to hide in the capitol and slip into the Chancellor’s bedroom.
At gunpoint, Owen forces Vivian to talk. She admits she is every later queen, seeded Owen’s book through eras, sent multiple candidates back, and needed Owen’s love for Una to perfect the legend and cement power. She ruled ruthlessly to survive entrenched elites. When Owen threatens to undo her story, she vows eternal pursuit. Owen fires; Vivian catches the bullet on Valiance, and the book pulls him into winter.
Under the yew, Una narrates their reunion. Touch restores her memories; Owen warns Vivian is coming. Una longs to fight, but Owen shows Valiance and his revolver bear modern maker’s marks, exposing the “magic” as manufactured. They reject duty to crown and choose each other, blooding the book together and fleeing through time, leaving the sword and gun beneath the yew.
Who Appears
- Owen MalloryNewly knighted historian; deciphers his hidden message, regains memories, confronts Vivian, and reunites with Una to flee through time.
- Una EverlastingHero of legend; remembers beneath the yew, rejects Vivian, and chooses to run with Owen using the book’s blood magic.
- Chancellor Vivian Rolfe (Yvanne)Reveals she engineered centuries of queens and stories; vows pursuit; stops Owen’s bullet with Valiance as he departs.
- Professor G. SawbridgeLed the dig that found the grail and crown; tried to destroy the grail; fired and fleeing; gives Owen crucial clues.
- HarrisonColleague unraveling under erased timelines; envies Owen and senses lost roles in Vivian’s schemes.
- Sylvia “Sylvie” ShawArchivist; aided Sawbridge at the dig and in the failed attempt to destroy the grail; plans to flee.
- Owen’s fatherDetained dissident; reveals Owen’s Roving origins and his own desertion to save the infant; provides the contact for Owen’s infiltration.