The Stolen Heir Duology, #1
The Stolen Heir
by Holly Black
Contents
Chapter 17
Overview
At the staged exchange, Oak’s trapped reliquary poisons King Hurclaw, triggering chaos. Wren realizes Mellith’s heart beats in her and unleashes annihilating power, unmaking Lady Nore and the stick army. She frees Bogdana, coerces Hurclaw’s allegiance, promises to end the troll curse, and claims Oak as hostage, sending Tiernan and Madoc away.
Summary
Wren, Oak, Lady Nore, Hurclaw, Bogdana, Madoc, and the former falcons stage the exchange. Nore orders Bogdana seized as planned. Tiernan approaches with a case said to contain Mellith’s heart. At Oak’s prompting, a falcon carries it to Hurclaw.
Hurclaw opens the case and is struck by a poisoned dart; the “heart” proves a decoy. Fighting explodes between trolls and falcons. Wren is shot and, reeling, experiences memories revealing Bogdana placed Mellith’s heart in her chest. Realizing she is the unraveler, Wren quenches flames, then severs enchantments, collapsing Nore’s stick army.
Confronted, Wren proclaims her origin. Lady Nore denies and taunts, and Wren, driven by fury, unintentionally annihilates Nore. Shocked by the scope of her power, Wren nevertheless takes control: she orders Hyacinthe to free Bogdana and retrieve Oak’s antidote for Hurclaw, who recovers.
Wren promises Hurclaw she can end the troll curse and secures his allegiance. Turning to Oak, Tiernan, and Madoc, she allows Tiernan and Madoc (and any falcons) to depart with the message that she has taken the Citadel for Elfhame. She keeps Oak, bridling and commanding him despite his pleas, while Hyacinthe remains to serve out his debt.
Who Appears
- Wren (Suren)Discovers Mellith’s heart beats in her; unleashes unmaking power, destroys Lady Nore and stick army, compels Hurclaw, keeps Oak as hostage.
- Prince OakOrchestrates the trapped reliquary; negotiates under threat; yields the antidote; is bridled and held hostage by Wren.
- Lady NoreArrives with the reliquary; feigns control; is exposed and unmade by Wren’s annihilating power.
- King HurclawPoisoned by Oak’s trap, revived by antidote; submits to Wren after witnessing her power.
- BogdanaStorm hag captured with iron; reveals constraints of Mab’s curse; freed by Wren; delights in Nore’s fall.
- TiernanDelivers the decoy case; urges restraint; departs with Madoc and some falcons at Wren’s command.
- MadocWeakened but present at the exchange; opposes Wren keeping Oak; leaves under Wren’s orders.
- HyacintheMoves to protect Wren; frees Bogdana; delivers antidote to Hurclaw; remains bound by his vow.
- TitchOwl-faced hob who relays messages between Tiernan and Oak before the exchange.