Contents
Chapter 26
Overview
Medra wakes to a devastated room and a telepathic warning from Orcades as Blake returns with subtly crimson eyes. Visha and Theo report an infected student and, moments later, an attack kills warden Marta. The group kills two infected highbloods and decides to secure Drakharrow Tower, postponing Medra’s plan to reach Florence.
The outbreak confirms a spreading highblood plague, forcing triage between defense, containment, and uncertain hopes for a cure.
Summary
Medra wakes from a violent dream to find Blake’s room wrecked and the window shattered. Orcades contacts Medra telepathically, warning of a metaphorical “red wave” and urging her to arm herself and find Florence. Medra gears up with daggers just as Blake returns, exhausted and evasive, with irises faintly crimson.
Visha and Theo burst in: Theo is bloodstained from a confrontation with Everett Cavendish, a First Year Visha had to kill when he attacked like an animal. Visha reveals rumors of a highblood plague; her family may already be affected. Blake moves to secure the tower, planning to alert wardens and keep students in their rooms, while Medra pushes to reach Florence.
A heavy blow hits the door, and warden Marta collapses inside with her throat torn. Two infected Second Years follow, gray-skinned with black-veined flesh and milky eyes. Visha wounds one; Blake hurls the other into a wall. Medra finishes the first with a dagger through the skull, and Theo kills the second with a shattered chair leg.
Assessing the attackers—slower than normal highbloods and seemingly spread by bites—Blake orders a floor-by-floor sweep, headcount, and quarantine of any injured in the infirmary. Visha questions killing the infected; Blake opts for containment unless directly attacked. Medra, fearful for Florence, is forced to delay leaving and stays with Blake as they begin securing Drakharrow.
Who Appears
- Medra (Pendragon)POV; arms herself after Orcades’ warning, kills an infected student, and reluctantly agrees to help secure Drakharrow before seeking Florence.
- BlakeReturns exhausted with faintly crimson eyes; leads tower defense, kills an infected, and orders containment and a sweep before aiding Florence.
- VishaWarns of a highblood plague; earlier killed Everett to save Theo; helps slay an infected and pushes for potential cures over executions.
- TheoArrives bloodstained; arms himself and kills an infected with a chair leg; urges caution and supports Blake’s plan.
- MartaFourth Year warden who staggers in mortally wounded and dies, confirming the outbreak’s immediate threat.
- OrcadesTelepathically warns Medra of an oncoming ‘red wave,’ prompting preparation and urgency.
- Everett CavendishFirst Year highblood previously infected; attacked Theo and was killed by Visha before this scene.