Fall of Ruin and Wrath

Lis struggles to explain who she is, but Thorne insists that he already knows her, calling her na’laa. She then explains that Claude sent her. Thorne, who had no idea that she was coming, lowers Lis to the floor but continues to hold her. She asks him to let her go, but he tells her that he is enjoying being this close. When she points out that she is supposed to “service” him, he jokes that she is already doing so by pressing against him.

Lis tries to use her intuition on Thorne again but sees and hears nothing. This bothers her, as she will have nothing to report to Claude, but she is also relieved that she can continue to touch him without being overwhelmed. At last, however, Thorne releases her. He warns her that he likes and trusts her but that he does not trust Claude; if she tries to harm Thorne, he will “retaliate.”

After Thorne releases Lis, he lights the candles in the chamber with his magic and then unstraps several weapons from his body as he undresses. Lis asks why he carries so many weapons when he can use magic. Thorne explains that as he uses his power, it needs replenishing. It also will not work on a foe as strong as he is, so weapons are often necessary.

Thorne asks Lis if she is sure that she wants to “service” him. She insists that she is, knowing that she needs to find a way to use her intuition on Thorne or at least get information from him so that she can make Claude happy. She also considers how attracted to him she is. With her affirmation, Thorne requests that Lis draw a bath for him so that she can bathe him as she did last time.

Once Thorne is in the tub, he instructs Lis to talk about herself to distract him from thinking about sex. She tells him her real name, Calista, which only Grady knows, and says that she is from a region near the Lowlands. She asks where he is from, and Thorne tells her that he is from Vytrus. All Lis knows about Vytrus is that it is the Hyhborn Court located in the Highlands. The prince of Vytrus is one of the few Deminyens that the lowborn know of by name, as he is “unpredictable and volatile […] and the hand of the king’s wrath” (157). Lis hesitates and then asks Thorne the name of the prince. He responds that she already knows it.

When Lis reacts with shock, Thorne asks her if she is finally afraid of him. She considers, realizing that she is afraid of his reputation but still has no fear of Thorne himself. She tries to probe Thorne’s senses but is met by a white wall each time, which is different than anything she has seen before. She wonders if it is some kind of shield.

Thorne asks Lis further questions about herself. She tells him that she has never truly considered her future. However, since she likes the garden, she has always wanted to be a botanist.

Thorne then asks Lis to take off her clothes and get into the bathtub with him. Realizing that he asked when he could have just demanded or forced her, she chooses to join him. Thorne and Lis then begin to touch each other. She explores his entire body with her hands while he pleasures her with his fingers. As she is overwhelmed, Thorne asks her how she came to be a “favorite” choice for the baron to send to pleasure his guests. When she responds that she has been “servicing others” for a long time, he accuses her of lying.

The accusation alarms Lis, but she does her best to ignore it. Instead, she plays coy, insisting that she can be experienced or a “virgin” depending on what Thorne wants. They continue to pleasure each other with their hands until they both orgasm. After, she lies against his body in the tub. She thinks of how strange it feels not to be afraid of a prince but instead to feel like she belongs in his arms. After several moments, Thorne asks Lis why she was truly sent to him, warning her not to lie.

Lis contemplates whether to tell Thorne the truth. She reasons that she truly has no choice, so she admits that she was sent to get information. Thorne considers this and then instructs Lis to tell Claude that he is there to talk about the Iron Knights. He promises not to tell Claude that Lis told him the truth, which shocks her. She thanks him.

As Lis starts to go, Thorne asks her to stay. She considers how much she truly wants to be with him but decides that she needs to return to Grady. Back in her room, Lis tells Grady about what happened. They discuss the Iron Knights and how serious the rebellion must be for the prince to get involved.

Grady then changes the subject. He suggests to Lis that they move somewhere else. The conversation annoys her, as they have had it several times before. Grady asks about moving to Cold Springs, but Lis immediately dismisses the idea, as it has become a rebel stronghold. However, Grady explains that he will not be happy anywhere while the Hyhborn have control, so he would rather risk change.

The next day, Lis goes to speak with Claude and Hymel. She tells them who Prince Thorne is, which genuinely surprises Claude. She then explains that Thorne is there to talk about the Iron Knights and the border. When she finishes, Claude dismisses Hymel, which angers him.

When Lis is alone with Claude, he asks her what else she saw. She reveals that Thorne is looking for information about something. Claude then questions her about what she did with Thorne. She realizes that he is just trying to make sure that she was satisfied, as he does not want to lose her. She assures him that she enjoyed her time with Thorne and that he is not the “brute” that everyone thinks he is.

After Claude leaves, Hymel returns. He asks Lis what Claude talked about, but she refuses to tell him. He angrily grabs her wrist and twists it. When he goes to strike her, she stops his arm. She warns him not to touch her and then threatens to reveal how he will die. When Hymel hesitates, she brushes past him.

Back in her chambers, Lis contemplates how to use her gifts during dinner with Thorne to get more information. Eventually, Lis falls asleep thinking about Thorne. It surprises her that she is not thinking about anything sexual but instead of the moments that he held her. When she wakes up a few hours later, Thorne is in her chambers.

Lis tries to act annoyed that Thorne is in her bedchambers. However, he can see that she is excited and aroused by his presence. He flirts with her, moving closer to her bed as she does so. He tells her that he was wondering what happened with Claude, and she describes Claude’s relief that Thorne’s visit is not about taxes, as well as his curiosity about a prince’s presence in Archwood. Thorne interrupts her when he spots the bruising on her arm from her encounter with Hymel. Lis refuses to tell him who did it but assures him that it wasn’t Claude. Thorne kisses her arm, making the bruising disappear.

Lis asks why Thorne is truly in her room. He admits that it is strange that he is there, as he should not care about Lis. He explains that Hyhborn—specifically the ruling class of princes and princesses—do not have the ability to show compassion. She argues with him, insisting that he spared her life and was relieved not to have to destroy Archwood. She also points out that he is against making Rae by stealing mortals’ souls, something he told her earlier. Thorne hesitates and thinks for several moments. He then simply responds that she’s “right” and leaves, making Lis wonder why he would show such “obvious unease” at being compassionate.

Later that night, Lis gets ready to go to supper. When she looks in the mirror, she is shocked to see that her eyes, instead of being the usual brown, have hints of blue around the pupils. She closes her eyes, convincing herself that it was just a trick of the light. When she reopens them, to her relief, they are all brown.

While waiting for Thorne to arrive for dinner, Lis is annoyed to see that Claude is already intoxicated. He complains about the prince’s late arrival. Thorne eventually arrives with two other lords, whom he introduces as Rhaziel and Bastian.

During dinner, the men mostly make small talk. Lis tries using her gift on Rhaziel and Bastian. She finds the same white wall but, to her surprise, can cut through it and hears both mentally complain about Claude and his drunkenness. She tries to do the same with Thorne but cannot break the wall. She realizes that Claude must have known this was possible, making her wonder again what experience he has with gifts like hers.

Thorne interrupts Lis’s thoughts by asking why she isn’t eating. She lies, telling him that she ate earlier. When Claude mentions that she has been spending a lot of time in her garden, Lis tries to dismiss it. However, Thorne asks her about the plants, and she explains the different species of sedum. When she realizes that she is rambling, she stops and looks around. The men all looked confused or bored except for Thorne, who seems genuinely interested.

Thorne explains that the Iron Knights have begun working with the princess of Visalia and the Westlands. They are planning to invade and capture Archwood, which will give them access to the Midlands and Primvera, as well as Archwood’s valuable trading ports along the canal.

Lis questions why the Iron Knights, who want a lowborn in power, would work with the Westlands. Thorne tells her that the princess of Visalia believes that a queen should rule Caelum. To Lis’s surprise, Thorne asks her how she would feel about a queen ruling. Lis explains that gender is irrelevant; what matters is their ability to rule. He then asks what she would think of a lowborn as king. She hesitates, but Rhaziel assures her that she will not be judged for her response. She points out that there are more lowborn than Hyhborn, so a lowborn in power could bring positive change. However, once that person becomes king, they would effectively no longer be a lowborn due to the wealth and power that come with the position.

Thorne goes on to explain to Claude that Archwood will be protected. To Lis’s horror, Claude questions how three Hyhborn will stand up against the Iron Knights and the Westlands. Even after Thorne explains that an army of over 1,000 will be joining them, Claude still seems disbelieving. Ignoring him, Thorne tells him to prepare every man in Archwood to fight—including Claude himself. Thorne concludes by warning Claude that, if Archwood falls, it will be of no more use to the Hyhborns. Although Claude doesn’t understand, Lis grows concerned. She asks what will happen to Archwood in that event, and Thorne tells her that it will be destroyed.