Chapter 7

Suren slips past bored guards toward the Court of Moths’ prisons. Jack of the Lakes surprises her, bargains for her silver fox game piece, and creates a diversion by stealing a guard’s sword. With the guards gone, Suren enters the cavernous cells.

She finds a human girl, Gwen, and a suffering merrow, then reaches Hyacinthe, now unbridled. Hyacinthe says Oak removed the bridle to keep it from Annet and suggests Annet is delaying Oak to gauge Elfhame’s stance. Suren demands information: Hyacinthe reports Nore sought terms from the High Court and was refused, and warns Oak’s inherited gancanagh charm can manipulate loyalties.

Each cell opens by riddle. After two near-fatal wrong guesses, Suren solves Hyacinthe’s with “candle,” freeing him. Determined to prevent witnesses and cruelty alike, she then opens Gwen’s cell by answering “fire,” and has Gwen work with Hyacinthe to release the merrow. To secure their escape, she bargains further: if she can remove Hyacinthe’s wing-curse, he must take Gwen and the merrow to safety.

Suren wrestles the powerful High Court curse. Failing at first, she finally draws the enchantment into herself and annihilates it, restoring Hyacinthe’s arm. He immediately swears fealty to her. Shaken but resolute, Suren orders Hyacinthe to escort Gwen and the merrow out and to a sea cave, while she stays to misdirect pursuit. She confronts returning guards, feigns outrage at lax security, and obscures the escape.

At the revel, Suren watches Oak drunkenly bait two ogres until they strike him; he invites more blows before she intervenes. Queen Annet’s guard, led by Revindra, arrives and accuses Suren of the prison break, producing Jack’s confession and the silver fox token. Oak’s gaze turns cold; he refuses to protect Suren as the guards move to take her.