The Stolen Heir Duology, #1
The Stolen Heir
by Holly Black
Contents
Chapter 11
Overview
Tiernan suspects Wren after Bogdana’s approach, while Oak returns with stolen supplies and feigned normalcy. Wren resolves to leave, briefly steals the bridle, and escapes to a bus station, warning her mortal family. But Titch has already reclaimed the bridle, and a burst tire strands Wren, thwarting her flight.
Summary
Tiernan confronts Wren in the rain-dark woods, believing she conspired with Bogdana. Wren denies it, but realizes Tiernan always treated her as a sacrifice. Back at camp, amid sodden repairs, he presses her about Bogdana’s offer; Wren admits only the hag’s threat to spare her and her family.
Oak returns from a nearby town with pilfered food, clothes, and tarps, insisting he didn’t harm anyone and joking about leaving rubies instead of cash. Wren, unsettled by Oak’s glamours and by Bogdana’s claims about her creation, decides she must go north alone to kill Lady Nore and end everyone’s leverage over her. They debate routes through the Stone Forest and the beauty of the Ice Needle Citadel; Wren calls it ugly, recalling Nore’s cruelty.
As night deepens, Wren plans to steal the bridle and depart for the bus station. Oak rouses and speaks with her: he admires her enduring anger, disavows any desire to be High King, and shows her a coin trick, briefly disarming her. After he sleeps, Wren takes the bridle from his bag, belts it in a scarf, and slips away past the owl-faced hob, Titch.
At a bus station, Wren glamours a fake ticket and charges Gwen’s phone. Gwen texts that she is safe with the freed fiddler. Wren calls Bex, who remembers glimpsing Wren like a ghost months before; Wren warns her family about salt, rowan, and iron, then cuts the call as the bus arrives.
Onboard, Wren reaches for the bridle and discovers it gone—Titch has taken it. As the bus pulls away, a tire pops. The bus lurches to a halt, leaving Wren stranded and her attempted escape foiled.
Who Appears
- Wren (Suren)Protagonist; denies colluding with Bogdana, resolves to go north alone, steals the bridle, warns her mortal family, escape foiled.
- OakPrince and leader; returns with supplies, jokes to ease tension, admits he doesn’t want the throne, unwittingly stalled as Wren flees.
- TiernanKnight; suspects Wren of conspiring with Bogdana, plans logistics, stands first watch, grim and protective.
- TitchOwl-faced hob; stands watch, silently reclaims the bridle, later watches Wren at the station.
- BexWren’s unsister; recalls seeing Wren months earlier, listens to warnings about salt, rowan, and iron.
- UnmotherMortal caretaker; offers help and warmth over the phone, prompting Wren’s painful refusal.
- UnfatherMortal caretaker; answers Wren’s call and passes the phone to Bex.