Throne of Glass, #5
Empire of Storms
by Sarah J. Maas
Contents
CHAPTER 55
Overview
As Lorcan and Elide race to warn Aelin’s court, Aelin’s group is forced to confront five hundred ilken in the open marsh with no hope of hiding. Rowan prevents Aelin from using the Wyrdkey, Aedion’s resentment erupts into open blame, and the group forms a desperate battle plan around Aelin’s fire.
The chapter shifts the stakes from discovery of the Lock to immediate survival against Erawan’s answer to Aelin’s power. Aelin chooses to risk burnout by diving deeper into her magic than ever before, setting up a defining test of her strength and control.
Summary
Lorcan and Elide race through the Stone Marshes after the ilken army. Lorcan repeatedly sends blasts of power ahead to warn Rowan and the others, fearing that if the ilken arrive first, Aelin’s Wyrdkey will be lost and Elide will witness the slaughter of Aelin’s court.
At the ruins, Aelin’s group realizes there is nowhere to hide from the five hundred ilken Erawan has sent. Aelin suggests using the Wyrdkey because the marsh is empty, but Rowan flatly refuses and makes clear he would die before allowing it. Aedion then turns on Aelin, blaming her public displays of power and secretive plans for provoking Erawan, while Aelin rejects the accusation.
With the ilken closing in, Rowan takes command of the battlefield plan. Aelin refuses to let the others fight without her and insists steel must matter once magic fails. Lysandra volunteers to rile the marsh beasts so the ilken will face more than Aelin’s group if they land, while Manon scouts from the ruins with a bow.
Rowan instructs Dorian to use short, targeted bursts of magic and to keep his back to the wall. Dorian says he will not be Erawan’s prisoner again, and Manon promises to kill Dorian first if capture becomes inevitable, a grim offer Dorian accepts despite Aelin’s protest. Aelin decides there will be only one decisive first strike: hers.
Aelin walks alone into the marsh to put distance between herself and her allies, preparing to meet the ilken at the full reach of her power. Rowan follows far enough to remind Aelin to remember who she is and that she belongs to him. Strengthened by that bond and by her need to protect everyone she claims as hers, Aelin sprints into position and plunges deeper into her fire than ever before.
As the ilken alter course toward Aelin, Aedion, Fenrys, and Gavriel move to herd the creatures toward her strike, while Rowan and Dorian ready their own magic from a safer distance. Aelin descends past the former limits of her power into an uncharted inferno, preparing to pull the full force of Aelin Fire-Bringer back to the surface.
Who Appears
- Aelin Galathyniusprepares to face five hundred ilken by risking the deepest reaches of her fire magic.
- Rowan Whitethornrefuses to let Aelin use the Wyrdkey and organizes the battle plan.
- Lorcan Salvaterreruns through the marsh with Elide, sending magical warnings ahead to Aelin’s group.
- Elide Lochanstruggles through the marsh beside Lorcan while watching the ilken-filled sky.
- Aedion Ashryverangrily blames Aelin’s choices for drawing Erawan’s attack, then joins the battle plan.
- Lysandravolunteers to provoke marsh beasts so they will attack any ilken that land.
- Dorian Havilliardprepares to use controlled magic and vows not to become Erawan’s prisoner again.
- Manon Blackbeaktakes a scouting position with a bow and grimly offers to kill Dorian before capture.
- Fenrysresists Maeve’s blood oath command and helps plan to herd the ilken.
- Gavrielhelps assess weapons and positions while trying to calm Aedion’s argument with Aelin.
- Erawanabsent antagonist whose ilken army tracks Aelin’s group to the marsh.