Chapter 32

Symond marches Diem and her companions up to the Umbros palace carved high in the canyons, flaunting its hedonistic excess. He taunts Diem, confiscates their bags, and needles Luther with lewd threats before leaving them in the throne room. Taran confronts Zalaric over his betrayal, and their argument erupts into a fistfight while Luther, wounded by perceived betrayal, challenges Diem about broken promises.

A gryvern lands as Queen Yrselle arrives, her aura saturating the room. When Luther, Alixe, and Taran refuse to kneel, Yrselle admires their loyalty, then forces them and the Centenaries to their knees, leaving Diem standing. Yrselle warns Diem telepathically not to escalate and invites negotiation over wine amid her attendants’ overt displays of pleasure.

In a tense exchange, Yrselle extols hoarded power and wealth, praises Zalaric as one she sheltered, and tests the group’s bonds. Diem asks about her parents; Yrselle reveals Diem’s mother is alive and cannot be executed without six Crown votes—currently blocked by Yrselle’s lone refusal, with Montios and Arboros silent and Remis abstaining.

When Diem steps too close, Centenaries threaten her, but she de-escalates. Yrselle then names her price: Diem must remain in the palace as an official guest for up to three days, during which Yrselle will host a formal dinner and grant safe passage home afterward, while refusing to honor the other Crowns’ summons. Luther objects, but Yrselle insists.

Pressed by the implied threat that Yrselle could change her vote and doom her mother, Diem weighs the stakes. Seeing no safe alternative, she agrees to stay under Yrselle’s protection.