Chapter 64

Maevyth awakens in pain inside a barred cart amid raven-marked children and is delivered to a cliffside Lyverian cottage. Inside, she finds Father wounded, Corwin mended, and Zevander and Aleysia unconscious. The Lyverian priestess announces Aleysia carries an internal plague. Despite Maevyth’s fury, the priestess prepares an exorcism.

In a bone-hung sanctum, the priestess mixes nihilisroot with her blood and Maevyth’s, chants in old Lyverian, and pours it into Aleysia. Ravens frenzy as spiders pour from Aleysia’s mouth and are devoured. Aleysia briefly dies, then revives clear-eyed and lucid, describing nightmares of a mangled tree, Moros, and spider webs.

After Aleysia is led to recover, the priestess questions Maevyth. She explains Lyverian history, their Corvikae origins, and persecution by Vonkovya. She identifies Maevyth’s scar as the mark of a Vasmora—the mortal vessel of Morsana—and claims Maevyth was chosen to restore Lyverian blood by mating with their strongest warrior.

Maevyth rejects being used for breeding and reveals visions of black fire tied to Deimos. The priestess fears a divine design to restore the vein and warns of Pestilios, a spider god, shown in living book images. Maevyth argues fate can be defied, recalling Morsana once urged her to kill Aleysia.

Unconvinced, the priestess demands proof: Maevyth must be cast into the (dead) vein and emerge unscathed to validate her claim. Meanwhile, Zevander remains sedated but alive and warm-blooded despite a bite, Father hobbles on a ravaged leg, and Raivox is said to nest on the mountain.