44. Cassia: The Queen

Cassia breaks from scrysilver after witnessing Everen and his human ally force a third human to reveal secrets, realizing with shock that Ammil—the burned prophet once thought dead—still lives within the Lumet. The vision collapses, but Cassia recalls an earlier, half-lost scry of a priest coercing a disciple, aligning the memory with Ammil’s presence.

Cassia rushes to Miligrist and relays what she saw, recording the details before they fade. Pressed, Miligrist confesses that she raised Ammil as a son and trained him, which allowed him to hide from other Seers. Miligrist admits doubt in prophecy’s reliability and fears that knowing too many futures breeds madness, yet hopes Everen may still succeed.

Tremors from the Reek intensify, and Miligrist counsels faith and secrecy: no dragon must learn Ammil lives. She urges Cassia to stop waiting for Queen Naccara’s recovery and to become the queen Vere Celene needs.

Cassia visits the unconscious Queen Naccara, whose infected wound has worsened despite the wraiths’ defeat. Weighing the mounting threats, Cassia resolves to lead. Mace, loyal to Naccara and Vere Celene, warns that Cassia must yield if the Queen wakes but otherwise endorses action.

Mace bestows the Queen’s red jewel upon Cassia, and with its flare of magic, Cassia assumes the mantle of Queen Regent. Cassia orders a council for all dragons to air concerns and plan forward, even as she privately grapples with fear that she might rule worse—or perhaps better—than her mother.