Contents
Chapter 66 — Grim
Overview
At a victory dinner, Cronan celebrates Isla’s apparent obedience after she kills Jessel, but Grim doubts her conversion. Visiting the prisons, Grim hears Isla weeping and infers her act was a calculated ruse, possibly using absorption to save Jessel. He protects her by masking the cell and withholds this from Cronan.
Summary
During a formal gathering, Cronan and planetary leaders toast the Wildling after she returns the knife and appears to accept Cronan’s cause. Grim watches her closely, noting her hollow aura and smile that doesn’t reach her eyes, and questions whether Cronan—and his own coldness—has broken her.
Grim replays the execution and wrestles with the contradiction between Isla’s past compassion and the killing. Remembering Cronan’s remark that Isla’s flair is absorption, Grim considers that she may have killed Jessel to preserve her in some way, staging loyalty to gain Cronan’s trust.
Late that night, Grim portals to the prisons, uncertain whether to confront or expose her. Hearing Isla sobbing, he recognizes the dinner performance as a façade that even deceived Cronan, meaning Isla hid part of her mind without powers.
Moved by her grief and his guilt—after she healed his arm and acted where he had not—Grim chooses not to betray her again. He retreats from reporting to Cronan and casts a temporary shadow barrier around Isla’s cell so the knights cannot hear her.
Who Appears
- GrimObserves Isla at dinner, questions her loyalty, hears her sobbing, deduces a ruse, shields her cell, and withholds from Cronan.
- Isla (the Wildling)Appears to align with Cronan after killing Jessel, later cries in prison; likely used absorption and maintained a hidden agenda.
- CronanPleased by Isla’s apparent conversion; hosts the gathering and remains unaware of Grim’s protective act.
- Heads of planetsCouncil members who praise Cronan’s strategy and accept Isla’s apparent allegiance.
- JesselExecuted earlier by Isla; her fate prompts Grim’s suspicion that Isla used absorption to preserve her.
- KnightsGuards near the prison; their hearing is blocked by Grim’s temporary shadow barrier.