Blood and Ash, #2
A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Contents
Chapter Fourteen
Overview
Ascended led by Lord Chaney and Royal Knights invade New Haven, lining up residents and demanding the Maiden. Chaney murders Mrs. Tulis and a knight executes a man, then threatens a child. Casteel steps out, returns Poppy’s wolven dagger, and declares himself the Dark One holding the Maiden. Several knights reveal themselves as Ascended, exposing deeper lies and imminent bloodshed.
Summary
Warned the Ascended have entered the yard, Casteel leads Poppy through the keep’s halls into the woods to observe. They watch Royal Knights and a crimson royal carriage gather residents outside, including Elijah and Magda, while children shiver in the cold. Poppy debates surrender; Casteel rejects it and warns of the danger.
Lord Chaney of Masadonia arrives, ostensibly seeking Lord Halverston. He quickly reveals his true purpose: the Maiden. Mrs. Tulis is produced from the carriage and identifies the Maiden’s arrival. When Magda denies it, Chaney snaps Mrs. Tulis’s neck, calling her death just. The knights escalate, stabbing and beheading a defiant man, then take a boy hostage.
Poppy suppresses her empathic pull amid the crowd’s pain, while Casteel vows to kill the brutal knight. Kieran and Delano position themselves unseen; Casteel leaves Poppy her wolven dagger, a bloodstone weapon capable of killing an Ascended, signaling the danger he expects to reach her.
Casteel steps into the yard and answers Chaney’s demand, announcing he is “the Dark One” and that he has the Maiden and will not return her. The pretense drops: Chaney reveals fangs, and several Royal Knights also expose Ascended traits, proving the realm’s lies about who Ascends. Poppy realizes the Ascended intend to leave no witnesses, and a confrontation is inevitable.
Who Appears
- Poppy (Penellaphe)Hides with Casteel, resists surrender, suppresses empathic urges, receives her wolven dagger.
- Casteel Da'NeerLeads Poppy to safety, orchestrates response, returns her dagger, declares himself the Dark One.
- Lord ChaneyAscended from Masadonia leading the incursion; executes Mrs. Tulis and demands the Maiden.
- ElijahFaces Chaney with defiance, lies to protect Poppy and the keep’s people.
- MagdaStands with Elijah, tries to restrain him; horrified by Chaney’s brutality.
- KieranWolven ally; stealthily positions himself near the stables during the standoff.
- DelanoWhite-furred wolven who flanks Poppy in the trees, ready to protect.
- Mrs. TulisForced witness from Masadonia; identifies the Maiden and is executed by Chaney.
- Unnamed Royal KnightMurders a defiant man and threatens a child, provoking Casteel’s vow of vengeance.
- NaillWarns of the Ascended’s arrival and departs to act; not seen afterward.