Blood and Ash, #1
From Blood and Ash
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Contents
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Overview
Still chained at Spessa’s End, Poppy questions Hawke’s revelations before Delano and Naill arrive to move her. Jericho leads a rogue faction, joined by Mr. Tulis, to kill Poppy despite the Prince’s orders. A vicious fight erupts; Poppy kills the wolven Rolf but is brutally wounded. A white wolven and Kieran arrive, halting the attack and calling for Casteel, exposing dangerous fractures within the Atlantian ranks.
Summary
Poppy, chained in a cell, wrestles with Hawke’s claims about the Ascended, the Craven, and his past, doubting what is true while refusing to break. Delano and Naill arrive to move her, warning that any escape attempt would force them to harm her.
Before they can leave, Jericho appears with six men. He argues that returning Poppy to the Ascended would send a powerful message and seeks revenge, revealing deep resentment and grief among the group. Mr. Tulis steps from the shadows, blaming Poppy for standing by the Teermans as his son was claimed for the Rite.
The confrontation explodes into violence. Naill and Delano shift to fight; Delano tosses Poppy a sword. Mortals and wolven surge into the cell. Poppy knocks out a mortal attacker, then faces a wolven. Amid the chaos, Delano is wounded. Seeing Rolf stalk Delano, Poppy severs Rolf’s neck with a sickle sword, saving Delano.
The tide turns against Poppy. Jericho claws and kicks her, breaking ribs. Mr. Tulis drives a dagger into her abdomen. Jericho moves to mutilate her as the onlookers jeer, and Poppy collapses, unable to move, recognizing she is dying.
A white wolven charges in, scattering the attackers and nuzzling Poppy before howling. Kieran arrives moments later, assesses her condition, and orders that the Prince be fetched immediately, ending the assault but leaving Poppy gravely injured and the Atlantian camp’s divisions exposed.
Who Appears
- Poppy (Penellaphe)Imprisoned Maiden; questions Hawke’s truths, fights attackers, kills wolven Rolf, is grievously stabbed and mauled.
- JerichoVengeful Atlantian who leads a rogue attack on Poppy; claws and taunts her, nearly kills her.
- DelanoWolven guard; protects Poppy, shifts to fight, is injured; saved when Poppy kills Rolf.
- NaillWolven; battles the mutineers, is briefly incapacitated by a blow to the head.
- Mr. TulisGrieving father who blames Poppy; stabs her in the abdomen during the attack.
- RolfWolven attacker who corners Delano; Poppy decapitates him with a sickle sword.
- Kieran ContouArrives after the assault; orders the Prince fetched to save Poppy.
- White wolvenUnidentified wolven rescuer; scatters attackers, comforts Poppy, howls for aid.