Contents
13 Meryn
Overview
Meryn’s tense reception of the Mother Priestess exposes a Goddess Tear set in the crown and widens religious scrutiny of her rule. In the Bonded City, friends reveal family opposition, prompting a dangerous outburst from Anassa that Meryn quells. A collector confirms the engagement bracelet’s Siphon origins and offers no removal, while the Dire Blade shards seem nonhuman. Meryn turns to Saela for research help.
Summary
At the palace gates, Meryn struggles with shadebending and headaches from maintaining a mental barrier against Killian. The Mother Priestess arrives, fixates on Meryn’s crown, and reveals its central opal is a Goddess Tear. Questioning Meryn’s devotion, the priestess withholds warmth and departs, leaving Meryn wary of zealotry and religious leverage over her coronation.
The next day, Meryn rides to the Bonded City with Venna, Izabel, Tomison, and Nevah. Izabel and Tomison are newly together, but the mood sours when Nevah and Tomison admit their families doubt Meryn and may even favor Rabenfrost. Anassa, inflamed by perceived disloyalty, attacks Filikos until Meryn forcibly stops her, insisting they cannot punish friends for their families’ views.
Back at the castle, Meryn updates Saela. The collector, Jorgen, confirms the engagement bracelet is Siphon-made and warns removal attempts could be fatal; he offers no solution. He also suggests the Dire Blade shards are not human-forged, leaving reforging unlikely. The setbacks deepen Meryn’s unease.
Noticing Saela’s engagement with research, Meryn links the glow of Saela’s inherited necklace to the opal in her crown and the priestess’s “Goddess Tear.” With the priestess avoiding her and answers scarce, Meryn asks Saela to help investigate, seeking knowledge to counter Killian’s influence and stabilize her rule.
Who Appears
- Meryn SturmfrostQueen struggling with shadebending, manages political-religious tensions, quells Anassa’s attack, learns her bracelet is Siphon-made, seeks Saela’s help.
- AnassaMeryn’s Bonded direwolf; protective and volatile, attacks Filikos over perceived disloyalty, then relents under Meryn’s command.
- Mother PriestessReligious leader who identifies the crown’s opal as a Goddess Tear, tests Meryn’s faith, and exerts subtle pressure over the coronation.
- SaelaSiphon rescued by Meryn; withdrawn but engaged by research. Hears bracelet news; asked to help investigate artifacts.
- VennaFriend who arranges the collector contact and supports Meryn during the Bonded City visit.
- IzabelMeryn’s best friend, newly with Tomison; caught in tensions as family doubts about Meryn surface.
- TomisonIzabel’s partner; admits his family doubts Meryn and considers Rabenfrost, triggering Anassa’s aggression.
- NevahFriend who warns that her family hasn’t declared for Meryn, highlighting fractures in public support.
- JorgenCollector who confirms the bracelet’s Siphon origin, warns removal could be fatal, and notes the blade shards aren’t human-forged.