Contents
34 Meryn
Overview
At a disturbing feast, Lucien reveals the war stems from his brother Alistair’s vengeance, not monstrous aggression. To prove it, Lucien has Meryn wear his Tear-crowned diadem, showing a vision of Alistair’s illegal thrall bracelets, the assassination of their father, Lucien’s sudden ascension, and Alistair’s escape. The Tears amplify Siphon magic, and Meryn recognizes the thrall bracelets as her own engagement shackle.
Summary
At Lucien’s banquet, Meryn watches Siphons feed openly from humans, provoking disgust and restraint from her allies. Lucien dismisses the humans and, with sudden seriousness, claims the centuries-long war stems from his older brother Alistair’s fury over losing the throne. Meryn challenges the claim and the Siphons’ use of mind control.
Lucien explains most Siphons manage only illusions and limited control over thralls or recent drink-partners. He mentions spies returned with altered memories and defines thrall as a blood exchange bond. To convince Meryn, he offers his crown set with a Tear, implying the gems amplify power.
When Meryn dons the crown, she drops into a vision in the Astreonan palace: Lucien is summoned from a tryst to an emergency council. The king confronts Alistair with witnesses wearing illegal thrall bracelets. Meryn recognizes them as identical to her engagement bracelet.
Exposed, Alistair abandons pretense. The king exiles him and names Lucien heir. Alistair triggers the thralls; attendants turn violent and behead the king. Lucien arrives too late to save his father, kills the enthralled attendant, and places the crown on his own head.
Empowered by the Tear, Lucien multiplies with convincing illusions and enhanced speed, cutting through thralls while Alistair retreats. Alistair vows to reclaim the throne and escapes. The vision confirms Lucien’s account, the crown’s amplification, and the peril of thrall bracelets that bind and control humans.
Who Appears
- Meryn SturmfrostProtagonist; confronts Siphon feeding, challenges Lucien, dons his Tear crown, and witnesses Alistair’s treachery in a vision.
- King Lucien BrightbaneSiphon ruler; feeds publicly, asserts war is Alistair’s vendetta, explains thrall and illusions, shows vision via Tear crown.
- Alistair BrightbaneLucien’s brother; accused of crafting thrall bracelets, orchestrates the king’s murder through thralls, vows to reclaim the throne, escapes.
- The King of AstreonaLucien’s and Alistair’s father; condemns Alistair, names Lucien heir, then is beheaded by enthralled attendants.
- StarkMeryn’s ally; bristles at the feeding, restrains himself, safeguards Meryn’s crown during the Tear vision.
- VennaCompanion; hand to concealed weapon, voices disbelief at the war’s meaninglessness.
- NoemiCompanion; horrified by the feeding, visibly repulsed, draws Siphon scrutiny.
- SintarSiphon champion; feeds from a human at the table, displaying casual predation.
- Human duelistArmored woman at the feast; departs groggy after Siphon feeding, to be returned home.