Throne of Glass, #2
Crown of Midnight
by Sarah J. Maas
Contents
Chapter 5
Overview
Celaena follows Archer through Rifthold but learns little, while the surveillance forces her to confront memories of Sam, her capture, and the city she once knew. In Chaol’s room, she and Chaol deepen their bond by sharing painful histories, including revelations about Wesley’s revenge on Rourke Farran and the possibility that Arobynn betrayed Celaena.
The chapter ends with a supernatural threat inside the castle: a hooded, inhuman figure retreats when the Eye of Elena glows. This shifts the danger from political conspiracy alone toward something darker and connected to the mysterious “plans” surrounding the castle.
Summary
Celaena watches Archer Finn from a rooftop in Rifthold while he visits Lady Balanchine’s townhouse longer than expected. She has been gathering names and addresses by posing as a mistaken courier, but she decides not to enter the houses yet because following Archer may reveal more about any conspiracy. The work reminds Celaena of her old life in the city with Sam Cortland and of the unanswered questions surrounding Sam’s death and her own capture.
After Archer leaves, Celaena trails his carriage through the city. Archer only makes a few appointments before returning home, but the surveillance leaves Celaena uneasy: if the king is right about a rebel movement, the truth may threaten not only Celaena but also the people and life she now cares about.
Later, Celaena sits in Chaol’s room, reviewing her notes on Archer while Chaol works. Chaol questions why Celaena is going to so much trouble instead of simply killing Archer, and Celaena explains that Archer may lead her to other conspirators. Their conversation turns from teasing to more painful subjects when Celaena asks about Rourke Farran, the crime lord tied to Sam’s torture and murder.
Chaol tells Celaena that Farran and his top men were killed nine months earlier by Wesley, Arobynn Hamel’s personal guard, and that Arobynn later had Wesley impaled outside Farran’s house. Celaena realizes Wesley may have tried to warn her on the night of her capture because he knew it was a trap. She stops herself from fully confronting what this implies about Arobynn’s betrayal, but the revelation deepens her grief and rage.
Celaena tells Chaol that Sam was her companion, that Farran tortured and murdered him, and that she was captured after trying to avenge him. Chaol offers quiet comfort, saying Sam would have wanted Celaena to survive. Chaol then shares his own wound: Roland Havilliard once humiliated him by seducing Lithaen, a woman Chaol believed loved him, and taking her away to Meah.
Chaol walks Celaena back to her rooms, and Celaena reassures him that Lithaen was foolish to choose Roland over him. Unable to settle, Celaena later heads toward the library, where she encounters a black-cloaked, inhuman figure that sniffs at her and moves like shadow. The Eye of Elena glows blue and drives the creature away, leaving Celaena frightened and thinking again of the mysterious word: plans.
Who Appears
- Celaena SardothienSpies on Archer, revisits Sam’s death, bonds with Chaol, and encounters a supernatural figure.
- Chaol WestfallQuestions Celaena’s methods, reveals pain caused by Roland, and comforts Celaena over Sam.
- Archer FinnSuspected rebel target whose appointments Celaena tracks through Rifthold.
- Sam CortlandCelaena’s murdered companion and lost love, remembered as central to her grief and capture.
- WesleyArobynn’s former guard; killed Farran and his men in revenge before dying brutally.
- Rourke FarranDead crime lord who tortured and murdered Sam, prompting Celaena’s failed revenge attempt.
- Arobynn HamelCelaena’s former master, implicated by Wesley’s fate and Celaena’s renewed suspicions of betrayal.
- Roland HavilliardChaol’s hated rival, remembered for seducing Lithaen and humiliating Chaol.
- LithaenChaol’s former love, who chose Roland and left for Meah.
- Hooded creatureBlack-cloaked, inhuman presence near the library, repelled by the Eye of Elena.