Crowns of Nyaxia, #3
The Songbird and the Heart of Stone
by Carissa Broadbent
Contents
Epilogue
Overview
In the epilogue, Asar is chained by the White Pantheon after Mische’s death, transformed by Alarus’s power and severed further from ordinary mortality. The gods fear what Asar may contain, but Asar’s true focus is grief and rage over what they did to Mische. Asar’s patient vow to find Mische again sets up the continuation of their story.
Summary
After Mische’s death, Asar sits alone in an unknown place and waits. His memories of the aftermath are blurred, but the image of Shiket driving a blade through Mische’s heart remains vivid and inescapable.
The White Pantheon does not know what Asar has become after Mische pulled him from the ritual circle. The gods chain Asar in a black room, where Asar no longer feels hunger, thirst, or sleep, and senses that part of his mortality has been replaced by something new.
The gods visit Asar to determine how much of Alarus’s power and identity remains within him. Asar understands their fear, because Ix, Srana, and Vitarus helped betray and destroy Alarus long ago, but Asar does not possess Alarus’s memories.
Even without Alarus’s memories, Asar’s hatred for the gods is fierce because Asar remembers their treatment of Mische. Asar recalls Shiket’s killing blow, the sun god burning Mische, the god of vitality dismissing her, and the goddess of justice delivering an unjust death.
Asar reflects that Mische deserved every beautiful part of mortality: dawns, hearths, rain, safe currents, fruit, and flowers. Asar has none of those gifts to give, but Asar remains patient and determined, certain that Asar will find Mische again.
Who Appears
- AsarNarrator; imprisoned by the White Pantheon, transformed by Alarus’s power, and determined to find Mische.
- MischeAbsent but central; her death and sacrifice drive Asar’s grief, hatred, and resolve.
- The White PantheonGods who chain and observe Asar, fearing how much of Alarus remains within him.
- ShiketGoddess of justice whose killing blow against Mische dominates Asar’s memory and rage.
- AlarusDead god whose power lives in Asar, making the Pantheon fear hidden memories or vengeance.