Tower of Dawn (Throne of Glass, #6)

The following day, Sartaq gives Nesryn a tour of the grounds before they travel to the archery circuit, where she shows the others her skill with an arrow. At their request, Nesryn begins instructing the warriors on how to improve. Houlun returns with news that a dark source stirs in the mountains. Ruk nests have been pillaged, their eggs and hatchlings stolen. She believes it is the work of the kharankui, sisters to the Northern Continent’s stygian spiders and another form of Valg creatures.

The mention of Stygian spiders prompts Falkan to reveal his reason for seeking Houlun out. He reveals he got 100 yards of rare and expensive spider silk from a stygian spider on the Northern Continent in exchange for 20 years of his life, taken from his prime. Though he is 27, he looks nearly 50. Falkan believes he must kill the spider he made a deal with to get his 20 years back. He has come to learn from the rukhin how to kill such creatures.

Houlun questions Nesryn about Erawan, somehow knowing already that the ancient Valg King has awoken. She informs Nesryn that long ago, a Wyrdgate opened in the Tavan Mountains, which allowed the kharankui and other Valg to enter their world. Most Valg traveled northward, but the spiders remained on the Southern Continent to guard the gate.

Houlun recounts the war in the Fae realms—three Valg kings against a Fae queen, Maeve. After the Valg were defeated, Fae traveled to the Southern Continent and sought the ruks to fight the kharankui. They built watchtowers throughout the land to guard against the kharankui and other Valg demons who might someday cross the Wyrdgate. Houlun suggests that Nesryn and Sartaq seek the ancient Fae watchtowers for answers.

Yrene and Chaol visit the library again to discover how the ancient texts and scrolls came to be there. Head Librarian Nousha does not know how they were acquired but suggests they look for the desert caves in the Aksara Oasis, rumored to have the information they seek. The Aksara is the royals’ private refuge where no one can go without permission. Chaol suggests that Yrene uses her connection to Hasar to seek a non-obvious invitation to the desert. Yrene and Chaol go out to dinner and get to know each other through small talk. After dropping Yrene off at the Torre, Chaol rides back to the palace feeling like a weight has been lifted off him.

Sartaq and Nesryn fly to the Watchtower of Eidolon, which is filled with traps. They descend to a dungeon where they discover a long-discarded cache of ancient Fae blades. Nesryn takes a short sword and Sartaq, a knife.

A kharankui appears on the ceiling. When it attacks, a large grey wolf tackles it, allowing Nesryn and Sartaq to escape. Kadara finishes the spider off, and the wolf shifts into Falkan, revealing him as a shapeshifter.

Falkan reveals he overheard them speaking with Houlun last night and followed them. He explains how he grew up in Adarlan, but magic vanished before his gift matured. It was only when he set foot on the Southern Continent that he realized he had the shapeshifting gift. When they return to the rukhin, Nesryn tells Borte about their mission. Houlun tells Sartaq about the three Wyrdkeys; he becomes angry that Nesryn has not told him about this detail and asks who has them. While she does not reveal anything, he believes Erawan possesses at least one, at most two, but not all three.

After three weeks of healing, Chaol now has movement up to his knees, yet still cannot stand. At dinner with the Khagan family, Hasar mentions that Nesryn is due back the next day. However, Chaol reveals that Nesryn’s latest letter has stated she and Sartaq are remaining in the mountains for another three weeks.

Hasar states that Dorian and Aelin have been spotted in Skull’s Bay, just as Chaol had said. Arghun’s spies saw her unleash her power on Perrington’s army nearby, effectively winning the battle. Arghun and Hasar attempt to discredit Aelin by claiming Skull’s Bay kneels before her, but Chaol argues that they’ve willingly joined her cause against Perrington forces. Hasar implies that Aelin is sailing down Eyllwe’s coast, burning villages. Chaol doesn’t believe Aelin would destroy the homes of innocents, especially those belonging to the kingdom of her dear departed friend Nehemia, but he cannot say this to the Khagan’s family for fear of them potentially using that information against Aelin. Hasar asks Chaol to swear on Yrene’s life that Aelin won’t one day try to conquer the Southern Continent. Chaol wants to show support for Aelin but knows her unpredictability more than anyone and can’t risk it. He says nothing. Hasar and Arghun’s attempts at sabotaging their father’s consideration of joining the war irritates both Chaol and Yrene.

After dinner, Kashin visits Chaol’s suite. While Hasar and Arghun are not keen to pay the costs associated with joining Erilea’s war, Kashin is open to supporting the Northern Continent if his father allows. Kashin reveals that he’s providing Captain Rolfe of Skull’s Bay with expensive new weapons called firelances. He informs Chaol of the Khagan’s next meeting with his foreign trade vizier.

Nesryn helps the rukhin with the housework and sits around the fire pit with them in the evenings, where Houlun tells tales. One night, they ask for a tale of Adarlan. Nesryn doesn’t have a tale to offer but instead sings songs from the land, which brings the rukhin to awed tears. Nesryn, Sartaq, Borte, and Falkan go to three more watchtowers yet find nothing. On the last watchtower, other curious ruk riders show. A rider named Yeran bickers with Borte and Nesryn and learns the two are engaged.