Throne of Glass, #4
Queen of Shadows
by Sarah J. Maas
Contents
Chapter 43
Overview
Arobynn reveals that he has understood the scope of Aelin’s campaign against his businesses and reputation, but her pressure succeeds in forcing him into a negotiation. In private, Aelin extracts the Amulet of Orynth from him and discovers that it is the third Wyrdkey, a major victory in the struggle against the king.
The victory immediately turns dangerous when Arobynn proves he has planned his own move: he places the Wyrdstone ring on Aelin’s finger. The chapter shifts Aelin from hunter to potential victim, raising the threat that Arobynn may try to control or corrupt her as the king controls his Valg.
Summary
At dinner, Arobynn confronts Aelin about the damage she has done to his business interests. He reveals that he knows she destroyed the Vaults, exposed his financial stake there, and impersonated Hinsol Cormac during Aedion’s rescue, causing Cormac and other clients to spread rumors that Arobynn is a rebel sympathizer.
Aelin denies responsibility with practiced ease while Lysandra pretends shock, though Lysandra helped refine the plan. Arobynn’s anger confirms that Aelin’s campaign of disruption has worked: she has not destroyed him outright, but has made him desperate enough to ask what it will take for her to stop.
Aelin and Arobynn move to a private sitting room while Rowan and Aedion secretly listen from the hall. Aelin confronts Arobynn about taking her family necklace when he found her as a child and about shaping her into a weapon. Arobynn claims he trained Aelin to survive and eventually defeat the king, but Aelin recognizes the familiar mixture of truth and lies in his words.
Aelin presses Arobynn about Endovier and Sam. Arobynn insists he tried to protect and free Aelin from the mines and defends his handling of Sam’s murder, but Aelin knows Wesley’s letter exposed how little Arobynn truly did once Endovier served his purposes. Arobynn then argues that capturing the Valg commander was meant to help them learn enough to bring down the king together.
Aelin demands the return of her family amulet and access to Arobynn’s resources. Both threaten to expose the other: Aelin can alert the king to Arobynn’s operations and the Valg blood in his house, while Arobynn can betray Aelin’s allies and location. Aelin counters that messages are already positioned to go to the palace if she and her companions do not return, forcing the stalemate.
Arobynn finally removes the Amulet of Orynth and hands it to Aelin. Aelin realizes it is the third and final Wyrdkey, and its power feels profoundly wrong against her body, but she conceals her reaction and says they will plan against the king in the morning. As Aelin prepares to leave, Arobynn takes her hand and, before she can stop him, slides the Wyrdstone ring onto her finger.
Who Appears
- Aelin GalathyniusPressures Arobynn, reclaims the Amulet of Orynth, and is trapped with a Wyrdstone ring.
- Arobynn HamelConfronts Aelin’s sabotage, returns the amulet, and secretly places a Wyrdstone ring on her.
- Rowan WhitethornSupports Aelin silently and monitors her private negotiation from the hallway.
- Aedion AshryverListens from the hall, ready to intervene while Aelin bargains with Arobynn.
- LysandraFeigns shock at dinner while concealing her role in improving Aelin’s sabotage plan.