Contents
Chapter 23
Overview
Owen and Una storm Cavallon, intent on following the script long enough to seize Vivian’s time-bending book. Una defeats the Hinterlanders and a wavering Ancel, then is nearly executed when Vivian unveils hidden crossbows. Ancel defies Vivian, tossing the book to Owen, and Owen and Una escape by leaping back to the very beginning.
Summary
Owen enters Cavallon first, warning the Hinterlander archers in their own tongue before killing them with his revolver. Una rides in and offers the attackers mercy; they refuse, claiming Vivian showed them a vision of Dominion’s oppression. Armed with memories of countless loops, Una anticipates every move and swiftly routs them.
Inside the hall, Vivian sits with the open book on her lap. Una returns the grail on script, drinks are staged, and Vivian reveals her restored youth. Una kneels only to maintain the plan. Ancel attempts assassination but finds Una ready; their duel, usually a swift execution, stretches into an even match as Una begs him to yield.
Una finally hamstrings Ancel rather than kill him, then must face the Queen’s Guard. While Una battles her comrades, Owen reaches Vivian, knocks the book away, and nearly kills her before Ancel—crawling and loyal—drags Owen down. Owen recovers and signals Una as she stands bloodied but alive.
Vivian claps, revealing hidden crank-crossbows among courtiers, aiming at Una. She orders the book returned. Guards subdue Owen, but the book lands by the wounded Ancel. In a last, clear choice, Ancel acknowledges his love for Vivian yet rejects her command, tossing the book to Owen.
As Vivian orders the volley, Owen collides with Una; the book is crushed between them. Arrows fly, but Owen pulls them both through time, farther back than ever before, vanishing “to the very beginning.”
Who Appears
- Owen MalloryNarrator; kills gate archers, confronts Vivian, seizes and loses the book, then time-jumps with Una.
- Sir UnaThe Red Knight; offers mercy, defeats Hinterlanders, duels and hamstrings Ancel, fights Queen’s Guard, escapes via the book.
- Vivian (Queen Yvanne)Antagonist; uses the book as leverage, stages hidden crossbows, tries to reset events, nearly reclaims the book.
- Sir Ancel of UlwinAssassin and loyalist; duels Una, is hamstrung, then defies Vivian by throwing the book to Owen.
- HenUna’s vicious warhorse; disrupts attendants, kills an archer, guards Una’s back in battle.
- Queen’s Guard (Bodrow, Carnock, Sir Gladwyn)Elite comrades turned foes; attack Una, many slain in the hall.
- Hinterlander EnvoysCoup attempt influenced by Vivian’s vision; refuse mercy and are defeated outside the keep.