Blood and Ash, #2
A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Contents
Chapter Thirty-Five
Overview
Delano reports an Ascended army burning a path toward Spessa’s End, forcing Casteel to organize a defense with too few fighters. Casteel sends Alastir and Kieran for reinforcements while allowing Poppy to stay and fight. At dawn, Casteel confesses his initial manipulations, his love, and reveals Shea’s betrayal that led to Malik’s capture and Shea’s death by his hands.
Summary
Delano returns to the fortress reporting that the Ascended are burning Pompay’s remains and the forests toward New Haven, traveling in two forces with camps, horses, and supply wagons—nearly eight hundred soldiers. He reveals Dante was killed by an arrow and that windowless wagons may hide Ascended.
Casteel, Alastir, Jasper, Kieran, Nova, Emil, and others assess Spessa’s End’s thin defenses: fewer than a hundred fighters and about twenty archers, with a vanguard of two to three hundred arriving by nightfall. They conclude the Ascended want Poppy and will raze the town regardless.
Poppy offers herself, but Casteel rejects the idea, arguing surrender would not spare lives. He orders Alastir to cross the Skotos and call reinforcements and, over Kieran’s protest, orders Kieran to go as escort, both to secure aid and keep Kieran from dying for him. Poppy refuses to leave, argues her worth in battle, and Casteel relents, allowing her to stay and fight.
Kieran and Casteel share an emotional farewell; Jasper gives Kieran his blessing. Afterward, Poppy trains with Vonetta and later joins a strategy meeting, noting Casteel includes her. She waits into the night, preparing for battle.
At dawn, Casteel returns. They finally address their relationship: Casteel admits he initially planned to use Poppy to free Malik, leveraged trust and intimacy, yet grew to care and now fears losing her. He confesses the truth about Shea: during his rescue, Shea bargained Malik to the Ascended to save herself; Casteel killed the Ascended and, devastated, killed Shea. He asks Poppy to keep this from Alastir, who believes his daughter a hero. They note Gianna resembles Shea, another reason Casteel refused that match, and he explains sending Kieran also prevents Alastir from undermining their planned marriage.
Poppy affirms her earlier honesty from dinner, while both brace for the Ascended’s imminent arrival.
Who Appears
- Penellaphe (Poppy)Determined to stay and fight; argues her value as a combatant and healer; trains; supports Casteel and keeps his secret.
- Casteel Da’Neer (Cas)Leads Spessa’s End’s defense; sends Alastir and Kieran for reinforcements; confesses manipulations and love; reveals Shea’s betrayal.
- Kieran ContouProtests leaving but accepts escort mission across the Skotos; shares an emotional farewell with Casteel and Jasper.
- DelanoReturns wounded with reconnaissance of the Ascended army; reports Dante’s death and logistics of the enemy forces.
- AlastirTasked to cross the Skotos to summon reinforcements; unaware of Shea’s betrayal; concerned for Casteel’s safety.
- JasperAdvises on defense; comforts Kieran before departure; underscores the stakes for Spessa’s End.
- NovaGuardian who questions Poppy’s battlefield value; later respects her skills; provides defender counts.
- EmilParticipates in the war council; remarks on possible informants and the army’s scale.
- VonettaSpars with Poppy, helping her prepare for battle with fast, wolven-level training.
- DanteDelano’s companion killed by an arrow during reconnaissance; his death underscores the threat.
- SheaCasteel’s former lover; betrayed Malik to the Ascended; killed by Casteel during the escape.
- Malik Da’NeerCasteel’s brother; captured after Shea’s betrayal; central to Casteel’s original plan to use Poppy.