Realm Breaker

As Andry makes tea for his mother, Valeri, he is still caught in the memories of the massacre. Valeri asks after his petitions to become another knight’s squire. Andry lies, saying that he has sent a few. He then distracts his mother with talk of a visit from the Queen’s own physician. His mother sees through the Queen’s ruse, however, and knows that Erida wants something from her son. They go over the facts of the massacre again, and she asks whether the Queen knows about the sword hidden under her bed. Her question surprises Andry, who has not told her that he hid the Spindleblade there. He confesses to hearing an inner voice instructing him to hide the blade from Erida. When Valeri believes his story, Andry convinces her to leave Galland and return to her homeland with him. Later, he attends the funeral procession for the fallen knights and is bullied by a fellow squire named Davel Monne, or “Lemon,” who taunts him for surviving while the knights died. As the procession begins, Andry plans to visit Iona with the Spindleblade after making sure that his mother reaches her homeland. Meanwhile, Erida watches Andry. An inner voice tells Andry that a new “hand” comes and an alliance has been made.

As Dom watches Corayne haggle for horses and supplies for their journey, he struggles with the thought of how much she reminds him of Cortael. They depart from Lemarta and eventually make camp for the night. Corayne asks Dom about being an Elder: someone who is virtually immortal, requires little sleep, and is immune to most dangers. Dom reveals that most Elders are looking for a path back to their home realm of Glorian, even though the Spindle to that realm has been lost at sea for a very long time. He tells her about Cortael and explains that he loved the man like a brother and a son, but Corayne is bitter toward her father. After she falls asleep, the scent of smoke rises, and soon, Taristan’s burnt soldiers appear. When Sorasa, Dom, and Corayne try to fight them off, their blades cut through air and their own horses are unfazed by the soldiers. Eventually, these foes simply disappear.

Corayne hears a voice telling her that the soldiers are her fate. She thinks that the apparitions are a dream, but when she sees that both Sorasa and Dom are rattled by the encounter, she knows that this was real. Dom explains that the soldiers are from the Ashlands, a realm ruled by the demon god, What Waits. Corayne demands that they get moving; she fears that her vision might indicate that Taristan and his wizard will soon be upon them.

They make their way to a ship, and once aboard, Corayne feels herself communing with her ancestors. She and Sorasa discuss their homeland; Sorasa does not consider the Guild to be her family. Corayne is then approached by an old Jydi woman who offers her a charm: a bundle of branches that she calls a gift from the ice. Corayne and her companions make their way to Ascal, and they are immediately disturbed by the scents of rot and sights of squalor amid the highly militarized navy. Sorasa grudgingly agrees to lead them into the palace so that they can find Andry.

As Sorasa guides them through Ascal to the Queen’s palace, she struggles with her morality. She knows that the soldiers she saw in the vision will spell the end of Allward. Now, she plays tour guide and names the great but poorly made structures of Ascal, like the Konrada, the cathedral built by Konrad the Great, and the navy cothon. With so many guards around, they opt to use the forgotten underground tunnels for the old stadium built by the Cors. Sorasa guides them, as she once used these tunnels to carry out a contract. They arrive at a gated entrance, and Sorasa goads Dom into breaking the gate.

As the palace prepares for the night’s feast where Erida will present her future husband, Erida deliberately chooses a red dress and notes that she can trust no one but herself. As she is about to enter the hall, Konegin finds her to ask about her husband-to-be, but Erida dodges his questions. She needles him until he offers his son as a husband instead; this is the last card in his hand in his attempt to make a claim to the throne. Erida politely refuses his offer and enters the hall.

Dom has Sorasa lead the way within the castle, and she directs them to the east wing. She convinces Corayne to act as a kitchen maid and ask other servants for directions to Andry’s apartments. Steeling herself, Corayne plays the role of a bumbling kitchen maid successfully, and they arrive at Andry’s door. Sorasa, however, has disappeared. Corayne and Dom knock, and Andry answers. He is initially confused by Corayne, but when he sees Dom, he is shocked. Corayne plays with her father’s Spindleblade while Andry and Dom exchange accounts of what happened after the massacre. She finds the sword to be ill-fitting for her, both physically and in terms of ownership. Andry believes that their quest hasn’t failed but is simply unfinished. He is hopeful that others will join them and offers to accompany them after settling his mother in Nkonabo. Valeri convinces them to meet with the Queen during the festivities first. Corayne believes that Erida will listen, unlike the Elder Monarch.

After visiting other Elders, Ridha has found that none of them wish to take up arms against What Waits; instead, they wish to follow her mother Isibel’s inclination and wait for a path back to Glorian to open while Allward is consumed. Ridha receives a sending from her mother, asking her to come home, but she ignores it and moves toward Castlewood. She stops at an inn on the way to rest her horse, and she overhears locals discussing Queen Erida’s betrothal. Because Ridha came in with her armor, they think she might be part of the Queen’s retinue and question her. Ridha knows nothing about Erida, however, and instead eavesdrops on the men’s plan to pass as Jydi raiders on the coast since the Jydi have been absent of late. The men try to rob her and then the innkeepers, but all four of them end up defenestrated. Ridha senses that the Jydi know that something is wrong and rides to Kovalinn, the Elder enclave, to find out what that is.

Andry brings Dom and Corayne to the hall, promising them that Erida will listen. He asks Erida for a private audience. They go to her audience chambers, and Dom introduces himself and confirms the truth of Andry’s report on the massacre and Taristan’s plot. Corayne introduces herself as Cortael’s daughter. As Erida deliberates, she comments on how the realm’s survival will depend upon her. She apologizes to Andry for doubting him and brings them back to the hall. On the way, she speaks with Corayne about her father and confirms that Corayne has the Spindleblade. Feeling hopeful, Corayne watches as Erida calls for everyone’s attention and prepares to announce the identity of her betrothed. She notices Andry’s terror, and he tells her that he never told Erida about the Spindleblade. Just then, the doors open, and Taristan and the red wizard enter Galland knights stab Dom and threaten Corayne with a blade to her back as Erida announces Taristan as her husband-to-be. The nobles cheer as Taristan faces off with Corayne, promising Dom that he will kill her in front of him, just as he did Cortael. As Taristan chokes Corayne, he aims to take the Spindleblade from her back, but she digs the cold Jydi charm into his face. Howling, Taristan lets go. Sorasa emerges, killing the knight who threatened Corayne and dragging her away. Corayne, Sorasa, Andry, and Dom run and hide in a room, barricading the door.