The Shepherd King, #1
One Dark Window
by Rachel Gillig
Contents
Chapter Twenty-Five
Overview
Hauth turns the infected boy's family into a public example, using the Scythe and the authority of the Crown to send the boy's parents into the mist and condemn the child. Elm's rebellion against Hauth exposes a deeper fracture among the Rowans, while Ravyn and Jespyr's arrival triggers open conflict among the Destriers.
Elspeth rescues the boy by surrendering more fully to the Nightmare's strength, but the cost is terrifying: she experiences a strange vision, loses control in battle, and emerges with yellow eyes and bloody, clawlike hands. The chapter raises the stakes around infection, state violence, and the danger that Elspeth's hidden magic may overtake her.
Summary
As Hauth's public punishment begins, Elspeth watches with Elm while the infected boy's parents are whipped before a silent, frightened crowd. Hauth declares that hiding infection is treason, crushes the prisoners' protective charms, and sentences them to death by the King's authority.
The Destriers drive the crowd outside Blunder's gates, where the mist waits beyond an open field. Orithe Willow and the Physicians bring out the bound boy, and Orithe uses a clawlike metal device to draw blood from the child's throat. Orithe declares the boy infected and dangerous, while Hauth uses his Scythe to force the parents toward the mist.
Enraged, Elspeth urges Elm to act, reminding Elm that the boy is innocent like Emory. Elm takes her advice, gives Elspeth his cloak and mask for concealment, and uses his own Scythe against Hauth's to freeze the parents before they reach the mist. Elm openly challenges Hauth, but when Ravyn and Jespyr arrive and distract the scene, Hauth strikes Elm and breaks Elm's focus, allowing the parents to vanish into the mist.
In the resulting chaos, Elspeth calls on the Nightmare and attacks Orithe and the other Physicians to free the boy. When Linden pursues them, Elspeth flees with the boy into the mist. Inside, Elspeth has a disorienting vision of a burning castle, frightened children, and a chamber with one dark window beneath an ancient yew tree before the boy pulls Elspeth back to the present.
The boy hears his parents deeper in the mist, and Elspeth gives the boy her charm so the boy can try to wake them. Unable to outrun Linden with the boy, Elspeth stays behind and faces the Destrier. The Nightmare takes control of Elspeth's body, overwhelms Linden, and leaves Linden bleeding from the neck before Elspeth escapes in horror.
Ravyn intercepts Elspeth in the mist and tries to steady her as Elspeth panics over the boy, Linden, and her uncontrolled magic. Ravyn notices that Elspeth's eyes are yellow, showing the Nightmare's influence, and when Elspeth looks down, her hands are curled like claws and covered in blood.
Who Appears
- Elspeth SpindleRescues the infected boy, enters the mist, and loses control to the Nightmare's violent power.
- The NightmareUrges Elspeth toward action, strengthens her body, and violently overtakes her against Linden.
- Elm RowanDefies Hauth publicly, uses a Scythe to halt the prisoners, and protects the boy's chance.
- Hauth RowanLeads the punishment, condemns the family, and breaks Elm's Scythe focus through violence.
- Infected boyCondemned by Orithe, freed by Elspeth, and sent into the mist to find his parents.
- Orithe WillowHead Physician who draws the boy's blood, declares him infected, and tries to restrain him.
- Ravyn YewArrives with Jespyr during the confrontation and later finds and steadies Elspeth in the mist.
- LindenDestrier loyal to Hauth who pursues Elspeth and is badly wounded by the Nightmare-controlled Elspeth.
- Jespyr YewArrives beside Ravyn, helping trigger the Destriers' split during Hauth and Elm's confrontation.
- The boy's parentsPunished for hiding infection, stripped of charms, and compelled by Hauth into the mist.