Contents
Chapter Seventy-One
Overview
Rivenna attempts to kill Tala, but Neema intervenes and the struggle fatally impales Rivenna, triggering the Last Return. The Eight roar into the world, yet Andren’s binding chant forces them into living portraits. Sol chooses Neema over the flock. Andren celebrates, then realizes Neema, Cain, and Tala have escaped.
Summary
Rivenna menaces Neema and Tala with the Blade, savoring her power and promising Tala’s death. At Neema’s mental plea, Sol slows Neema’s perception long enough for Neema to grab the Blade mid-strike. In the ensuing struggle, a guard crashes into them, and Rivenna is accidentally impaled. With her dying breath, Rivenna exults that she has summoned the Guardians.
The air thickens, candles gutter, and the sky rips as the Eight surge from the Hidden Realm in a furious, merged torrent. Andren and his allies chant a stark summoning-and-binding song, asserting they “made” the Eight and commanding them to “make your home within these walls.” The storm of aspects hesitates and then converges on the throne room.
Neema is spared in the chaos when Sol calls the ravens to recognize her as friend. As the chant intensifies, the Eight solidify into single forms and are inexorably drawn into Shimmer Arbell’s Dragonscale portraits. Sol is nearly taken by the flock, but the Raven collective cruelly banishes him; heartbroken yet safe, he remains with Neema.
One by one, the Guardians are bound: Monkey reaches eternally for fruit; Hound stands over its kill; Fox is fixed as a protective vixen; Tiger backs into the door painting; Bear surrenders to its river; Ox submits to its field. Yasila steadies Jadu as the Dragon’s eye burns; at last Dragon merges into its ceiling portrait, jaws forever poised with flame.
Andren declares triumph over his “imperial menagerie,” and courtiers marvel at the warm, living portraits. Confident this moment fulfilled his long-seen Dragon Trial vision, Andren surveys the room—then jolts at a discrepancy: Neema, Cain, and Tala are missing. His victory sours, and he orders an immediate hunt for them.
Who Appears
- Neema KraaIntervenes to stop Tala’s execution; inadvertently causes Rivenna’s death; shields herself via Sol; resists the binding.
- Andren (as Ruko)Leads the summoning and binding song, cages the Eight into portraits, then discovers Neema, Cain, and Tala are missing.
- RivennaAttempts to kill Tala; is fatally impaled during a struggle; her death triggers the Last Return.
- SolNeema’s Raven fragment; slows her perception; resists the flock’s call and remains with Neema, heartbroken.
- Tala TalakaTargeted for execution; struggles free amid chaos; disappears during the binding.
- YasilaSupports Andren’s rite; steadies Jadu as the Dragon’s eye burns; helps secure the Dragon’s binding.
- RukoParalyzed and forced to watch; used as Andren’s likeness during the binding triumph.
- JaduMedium for the Dragon’s eye; endures searing pain while Yasila maintains the focus.
- HavocAmazed by the living portraits; touches Hound’s fur to test its warmth.
- Lady HarmonyDelights in the Raven portrait’s lifelike motion, celebrating the binding.
- Lord ClarionSteps over Rivenna’s body to inspect Monkey’s portrait, impressed by the result.
- VabrasImpatiently pushes events along before the summoning, aligned with Andren’s plan.