I Read What?!

Well now, I've made it to the penultimate chapter. Woo. I...need to figure out my next book. Again.

So last time, our heroes had infiltrated a keep and are now investigating a broken tower. Now we get to find out what they've found.



So the chapter starts exactly as our heroes open the door. So what would a group of deranged human-supremacist racists focused on a warped view of history keep locked in their tower?

The light was not bright enough to fully illuminate the room, but they could make out the figure of a person seated in an ornate chair against the far wall. There was no movement or outcry, and stepping closer, they saw that it was the withered corpse of a man.

He was nobly dressed in clothing of antique design. A heavy golden torque hung at his shrunken throat, and several rings glinted on the bony fingers resting on the arms of the chair. His thick, dark hair had retained its living gloss and hung in disconcerting contrast against the sunken cheeks.

A corpse. Specifically the corpse of Corruth, the long lost Aurenfaie consort of Idrilain the first. Seregil's distant kinsman and the current royal family's ancestor. That guy.

He's been carefully preserved, presumably because some racists get a kick out of having the poor dude's corpse overseeing their plots to overthrow his descendants. Gruesome. There are a few other sacred artifacts from Queen Lera's reign, but nothing quite so notable. They also find documents, including plans for the sewers that show the newt emblem. Apparently Kassarie's family has had their fingers in constructing them. They also find a chest containing the White Hart's gold.

So basically all the threads are coming together. Seregil picks up some incriminating documents, and takes the rings from the fingers of his distant relative. One goes to Alec, while he keeps Corruth's royal seal. They head out, only to meet their erstwhile hosts. Run for it!

So there's a nice chase through the Tower and Keep. Some fighting. Alec gets nicked in the arm at some point, and they get herded to the ramparts on the roof of the keep. No way out.

Enter Lady Kassarie, who is happy to engage in pleasantries that quickly slide into racism. I particularly like this exchange.

“You’re too modest, my lord. After all, you’ve captured the ear of wizards and princesses.” Kassarie’s mouth twisted with a bitter sneer. “But then, you’re one of them, aren’t you? Some kin to our mongrel royalty? I trust you enjoyed your reunion with Lord Corruth.”

Seregil’s jaw tightened. “For that abomination, my lady, you have my family’s curse.”

“I shall do my best to be worthy of it. Now tell me, on whose behalf have you invaded my home?”

Anyway, Kassarie doesn't believe that Seregil and Alec are working for the Queen. She assumes that they're working for the Aurenfaie, with the aim to discredit Skalans loyal to the "true line". She's not particularly worried about pursuit. And intends to fly the coop. We also learn that poor Stamie had gotten caught while sneaking out, and the truth was beaten out of her. Poor thing.

So it's looking pretty grim, but suddenly they hear Nysander's voice in their heads, telling them to jump. Alec is too freaked out by the idea, but Seregil basically grabs him by the waist and throws him off the roof. Which is, I have to admit, pretty fucking hardcore. Seregil then jumps after him.

Thankfully, Nysander had a plan, which involves a polymorph spell. This one's a bit different than the intrinsic nature spell he'd done before. This time, the boys are birds. (There's mention of Seregil struggling free of his tunic, so they might have to worry about picking up their evidence afterward.)

I like the description of the spell actually, so I'll share it:

A swift, wrenching sensation shot through him, as if his soul were being pulled from his body. This was followed a splendid lightness, though he was still falling, dragged down by some entangling thing. Opening his eyes to a wondrous blaze of stars, he struggled free of his tunic and flung out his …

Wings!

Lovely, powerful, striped wings that sliced into the air and found purchase there. Leveling out into a glide, he looked down with his new eyes and saw another bird floundering awkwardly up toward him, hooting wildly all the way. He wouldn’t have thought it possible for an owl to look flabbergasted, but Alec did. Their empty clothes tumbled into the darkness as they winged up and over the keep.

Convenient that Seregil's whole magical dyslexia didn't kick in. But both Seregil and Alec (with a bit more difficulty) are able to rendezvous with Nysander and the others. More others than I expected even, because Princess Klia, Captain Myrhini, Beka and other members of the Palace Guard are there as well.

Thero changes them back (and Seregil goes off to vomit, so the magic issues are still around). The documents are gone, but they were able to keep the rings (Alec had his on a finger/which he kept by clenching his foot as a bird...which doesn't really make sense when I think about it, Seregil's had been around his neck on a string). There's an obligatory funny/cute moment where Beka gives an embarrassed Alec her cloak.

Anyway, they fill everyone in. But unfortunately, without the documents, they're going to need more proof. This means going back to the Tower with Klia and her guards. Beka wants to go too, but is stationed behind. She gives Alec her sword though.

Also they notice Seregil's scar is back again. Woo, plot.

So they go back to the Tower. There's a sad little moment when Alec sees Stamie with the servants, but she refuses to meet his eye when he tries to speak to her. Aw. They end up going up to the corpse room of the Tower, where Kassarie is dramatically waiting.

It's a suitably dramatic confrontation:

“Kassarie a Moirian, I arrest you in the name of Idrilain the Second,” she announced with no trace of emotion. “The charge against you is high treason.”

Kassarie bowed gravely. “Clearly you have the advantage. I yield, Your Highness, with the understanding that it is to your greater strength and not to your misbegotten right.”

“As you will,” replied Klia, stepping toward her.

“You will find all that you seek here.” Kassarie gestured around her. “Perhaps, like Lord Seregil, you would also be interested in meeting your mutual forebear.”

She stepped aside and lifted her lamp with a dramatic flourish. “Allow me to present Lord Corruth i Glamien Yanari Meringil Bokthersa. Your curs there have already pilfered the body, but I think they will bear out that I speak the truth.”

Apparently they forgot to warn poor Klia about this, so she's a little shocked. She bends over to get a closer look, while everyone watches. Actually this bit is pretty good! See, Alec, as established, is a little squeamish about the dead. Which means that he's the only one NOT watching Klia and her unfortunate ancestor. He notices that Kassarie is grinning and raising her lamp higher.

Booby trap of course!

Alec knocks Seregil aside and tackles Klia, just as Kassarie tries to blow her the fuck up. Kassarie's dead, Klia is singed, and Alec's a little bit on fire. Fortunately the others get him sorted out. The chapter ends here!