The tide begins to turn as alliances solidify and battles rage, but victory comes at a steep price. Manon Blackbeak confronts her destiny, while Aelin Ashryver Whitethorn Galathynius leads without magic, and Elide Lochan undertakes a perilous rescue mission. These chapters showcase the characters' resilience, courage, and the enduring power of love amidst the chaos of war.
Chapter 56: Queen of Witches
The Blackbeak, Yellowlegs, and Blueblood Matrons arrive at the Crochan camp, their sights set on eliminating Manon Blackbeak. Manon, recognizing their intent, orders Dorian Havilliard and the others to stand down, declaring this her battle. The Yellowlegs Matron flaunts the stolen Crochan crown of stars, a deliberate insult to Glennis and her people. Manon confronts the Matrons, accusing them of fear and weakness, and draws a line in the snow, daring them to cross it.
The fight erupts, three against one, but Manon fights with unprecedented clarity and fearlessness, holding her own against the Matrons' combined might. She is no longer the broken witch longing for death, but a queen fighting for her people. Bronwen, a Crochan warrior, offers her a second sword, and with two blades, she vows to hold the line as the last Crochan Queen, Rhiannon, did. She baits the enraged Yellowlegs Matron, leaving a deliberate opening, and when the Matron lunges, Manon swiftly decapitates her.
With the Yellowlegs Matron dead, Manon retrieves the crown of stars. As she places it on her head, it awakens, glowing with renewed power and acknowledging her as its rightful heir. She spares the Blueblood Matron, instructing her to tell her daughter Petrah that all debts are paid. Her grandmother, the Blackbeak Matron, flees in cowardice. After the threat is gone, Manon offers the crown to Glennis, but the ancient Crochan refuses it, instead kneeling and hailing her as "Manon Crochan, Queen of Witches." The Crochans and the Thirteen follow suit, uniting as one people under their new queen.
Chapter 57: A Crown for War
As the allied armies prepare for the Battle of Anielle, Rowan Whitethorn Galathynius worries about Aelin Ashryver Whitethorn Galathynius's inability to use her fire magic. Fenrys reveals that Cairn, under Maeve's orders, tortured Aelin by heating her iron gauntlets, burning her hands so severely that she now fears her own fire. He urges Rowan to be patient and let her heal. Later, Aelin, Rowan, Fenrys, and Elide Lochan discover a locked armory filled with priceless ancient armor and weapons.
The battle begins at dawn, with Morath's forces, led by Erawan, launching an all-out assault on the keep. The soldiers of Anielle, facing overwhelming odds, begin to lose hope. As the first siege tower docks and soldiers pour onto the battlements, their fear threatens to break their lines. At that critical moment, Aelin emerges, clad in gleaming golden armor and a battle-crown, a vision of a warrior queen. Without a spark of magic, she single-handedly holds the line against the tide of Morath soldiers pouring from the siege tower.
Aelin's incredible skill with Goldryn and her shield, combined with her absolute fearlessness, becomes a beacon of Hope vs. Despair. Inspired by her courage, the soldiers rally with cries of "To the queen!" Rowan, fighting by her side, realizes she doesn't need fire to inspire an army; her will and strength are more than enough. Lorcan Salvaterre and Gavriel fight their way into the siege tower to dismantle it from within, while Chaol Westfall defends another section of the wall. Aelin proves that she is a formidable force on her own terms, a queen defined not by her power but by her unyielding spirit.
Chapter 58: The Cost of Battle
The narrative shifts to multiple perspectives, illustrating the brutal scope of the War and Strategy at play. Inside the keep, Elide Lochan assists the healers, horrified by the sheer volume and severity of the casualties. On the battlements, Chaol Westfall fights valiantly from his warhorse, Farasha, a formidable force against the Morath soldiers. In the skies, Nesryn Faliq and Sartaq command the rukhin, discovering a contingent of Morath soldiers attempting to break the massive dam overlooking the plain, which would unleash a flood to wipe out the entire khaganate army. Nesryn and Sartaq intervene, but not before significant damage is done.
Meanwhile, Lorcan Salvaterre and Gavriel successfully fight their way down the siege tower and onto the battlefield, defending the main gate. Consumed by despair over Elide's rejection and feeling he has nothing left to live for, Lorcan fights with reckless abandon, letting his magical shields drop, seeking a worthy death. This arrogance proves costly; a Valg-possessed soldier catches him off guard, gutting him with a sword and leaving him for dead under a pile of bodies.
Chapter 59: I Will Always Find You
The battle ends in a victory for the allied forces, but the celebration is cut short. Nesryn Faliq and Sartaq arrive on the battlements with dire news: the dam is critically damaged and will soon burst, flooding the plain and killing everyone still on it. A frantic evacuation begins, with ruks airlifting as many soldiers as possible. Amid the chaos, Elide Lochan arrives and asks for Lorcan Salvaterre. The others realize with dawning horror that he never returned from the battlefield.
Rowan Whitethorn Galathynius orders Fenrys to use his teleportation magic to find him, but Fenrys confesses he cannot; the trauma of killing his twin brother, who shared the same power, has rendered him unable to use it. With no other options, and as her friends stand paralyzed by the scale of the disaster, Elide makes a choice. Driven by her promise to Lorcan—“I will always find you”—she refuses to abandon him. She runs to the stables, commandeers Chaol Westfall's powerful warhorse, Farasha, and charges out of the keep, riding alone onto the corpse-strewn battlefield to find the man she loves.
Chapter 60: Hellas's Horse
On the battlements, the remaining company watches in stunned silence as Elide Lochan gallops across the plain, a lone figure racing against impending doom. Aelin Ashryver Whitethorn Galathynius is frozen, trapped in the nightmare of being powerless to stop the unfolding tragedy. Chaol Westfall reveals that he has always called Farasha "Hellas's horse," a name that feels chillingly appropriate for this desperate race against death. Elide, meanwhile, follows a path of destruction—a long trail of slaughtered Valg soldiers—that could only have been left by Lorcan Salvaterre.
After a frantic search, she finds him buried under a pile of corpses, gravely wounded in his back and gut. His Fae healing is failing, a sign of the severity of his injuries. With her own injured ankle screaming in protest, Elide demonstrates immense strength and resolve, fueled by the theme of Love and Mating Bonds. She forces the barely conscious Lorcan to his feet and, through sheer will, manages to heave him onto Farasha's saddle. Just as she gets on behind him, a rukhin scout signals that the dam is about to break. With Lorcan clinging to her, Elide urges Farasha into a desperate gallop toward the distant keep, her mind repeating a single, silent prayer: Hold the gate.
Key Events
- Manon's Coronation: Manon Blackbeak defeats the Yellowlegs Matron, reclaims the Crochan crown, and is hailed as "Queen of Witches" by both the Crochans and the Thirteen.
- The Battle of Anielle: The allied forces, led by Aelin and the khaganate, clash with one of Erawan's armies.
- Aelin's Stand: Aelin fights without her fire magic, single-handedly holding the line against a siege tower and inspiring the soldiers of Anielle to fight.
- The Dam Breaks: The victory is undermined by the discovery that Morath has fatally damaged a nearby dam, which is about to flood the battlefield and drown the entire army.
- Lorcan's Fall: Driven by despair, Lorcan Salvaterre fights recklessly and is critically wounded, left for dead on the battlefield.
- Elide's Rescue: Refusing to abandon Lorcan, Elide Lochan rides onto the battlefield alone to find him and bring him to safety before the flood hits.
Character Development
These chapters mark significant turning points for several characters:
- Manon Blackbeak: Manon embraces her destiny, uniting the Ironteeth and Crochan witches under her rule.
- Aelin Ashryver Whitethorn Galathynius: Aelin proves her strength lies not in magic, but in her will and leadership.
- Elide Lochan: Elide transforms into a courageous hero, risking her life to save Lorcan.
- Lorcan Salvaterre: Lorcan's despair leads to his downfall, forcing him to confront his weakness.
- Fenrys: Fenrys's loyalty and trauma are revealed, adding depth to his character.
Themes & Symbols
Themes
- Hope vs. Despair: Manon's victory and Aelin's stand create hope, threatened by the breaking dam. Elide's ride becomes an act of hope against destruction.
- Endurance and Resilience: Aelin fights without magic, and Elide pushes through pain to save Lorcan, showcasing their resilience.
- Love and Mating Bonds: Elide's devotion to Lorcan drives her to defy impossible odds, fulfilling her promise to "always find you."
- War and Strategy: The Battle of Anielle shows the strategic maneuvers and individual costs of conflict.
Symbols
- Rhiannon's Crown: Symbolizes Manon's heritage and the unification of the witches.
- The Dam: Represents a looming disaster and Morath's cruelty.
- Farasha (Hellas's Horse): Symbolizes hope and divine intervention, carrying Elide on a mission to cheat death.
Key Quotes
“I will always find you.”
This promise, made by Elide to Lorcan, encapsulates the depth of her love and commitment. It becomes a driving force behind her actions, compelling her to risk everything to save him, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable odds.
"Manon Crochan, Queen of Witches."
This declaration marks the culmination of Manon's journey, as she embraces her dual heritage and unites the Ironteeth and Crochan witches under her rule. It signifies a new era for the witches, one of unity and strength, with Manon as their rightful queen.
Why This Matters and Section Significance
These chapters mark a turning point in the novel, with climactic moments that reshape the narrative. Manon accepts her heritage, and Aelin proves her strength without magic. The Battle of Anielle is complicated by the breaking dam, raising the stakes. Elide and Lorcan's plight emphasizes that war is fought by individuals, not just armies. The juxtaposition of Aelin's and Manon's leadership highlights that true power comes from will, sacrifice, and courage.