Golden Son

Augustus and his supporters escape, but Mustang remains behind. Darrow carries a wounded Praetor—a high-ranking military Gold—while the others follow him. Augustus’s Grays and Obsidians are gone, and the communication network is down. Feuding Golds hunt each other, and Lilath and Cipio of the Falthe family kill the Thorne family, including the children. Augustus orders Darrow to save him and to drop the Praetor. They run into the forest and fight with small bands of Golds, including the Falthes. Tactus kills Cipio.

At the hangar, they find their ships gone. An Orange says the ships had been forced to leave hours ago, indicating that Octavia had predetermined plans to move against Augustus. Augustus’s band of 70 Golds is surrounded by 100 Praetorians, including the Rage Knight, Fitchner. Augustus accuses Fitchner of doing Octavia’s bidding, but Fitchner is guided by his own conscience and argues they are all servants: “Gorydamn slaves to the one with the scepter” (127). After bragging that he killed Augustus’s Obsidians, Fitchner hits first the Augustus and then the Jackal with a stunFist before addressing Darrow and placing them under arrest.

Octavia rose to her position as the Sovereign after killing her father who had previously occupied the throne. Darrow meets with her and says he disobeyed her orders because Octavia showed weakness and favoritism. Aja, the Protean Knight, and Fitchner, are in the room, and Lysander, Octavia’s young grandson enters. Darrow, suddenly shameful, argues he was driven to attack Cassius by his survival instinct. Accusing Octavia of breaking the law, Darrow says she owes him an apology. Octavia recognizes Lorn’s philosophy in his words and reveals that Lorn is Lysander’s grandfather. Octavia offers Darrow a new home and promises not to abandon him like Augustus did. Darrow refuses and makes to fight her Obsidian guards but stops when Lysander implores him to stay. Octavia sends Lysander to get a small box so that she can play a game of honesty with Darrow.

The box Lysander fetches contains two scorpion-like creatures called Oracles. Lysander cuts Darrow’s sleeve open and tells Darrow he will be fine as long as he doesn’t lie. Octavia pricks Darrow’s wrist with a needle, and one of the Oracles latches onto the wound, wraps around his wrist, and lifts its stinger. The other Oracle is wrapped around Octavia’s arm. Octavia gives Darrow a choice between playing the game or death, and he chooses to play. If he forces Octavia to lie, he wins; she has only trusted one of the 71 other opponents against whom she has played.

They exchange questions and answers, and Darrow answers carefully and avoids questions that might give away his secrets. Octavia asks who Ares is, which Darrow does not know. Octavia suggests Ares is Darrow’s master. Darrow’s worry fades when Octavia asks if Augustus is Ares, knowing he can honestly answer no. Mustang enters, interrupting the game. For his final question, Darrow asks if Octavia planned to have Augustus assassinated at the gala; she answers no and is stung by the Oracle.

After Fitchner cuts the Oracle from Octavia’s wrist, Mustang accosts Octavia for lying and plotting against Mustang’s family. Octavia orders Mustang to sit and reasons with her that Augustus is a threat to the Compact of the Society. Octavia shows them a video of a riot occurring on Venus. The Sons of Ares have infiltrated Venus, but the Sovereign plans to “quarantine” the planet and kill them. Octavia thinks that by killing Augustus, who ordered the death of Eo, she can quell the Sons of Ares. Conceding, Mustang agrees to the plan.

Fitchner takes Darrow to his new room, congratulates him, and tells him to enjoy his new life before leaving. A female Pink is in Darrow’s bed, but he ignores her and paces the room thinking of Eo and Mustang. His room is filled with extravagant luxuries, and he has been given ample money. A male Pink delivers a small box then takes the female Pink out of the room. The box holds a holoCube with a message from Mustang to “Take cover.”

The power goes out and Sevro and nine Howlers break into Darrow’s room. Mustang had sent for the Howlers weeks ago as part of her plan to protect her family from Octavia. Sevro tells Darrow that Mustang may have summoned them, but they came for Darrow—they want to follow him into war. While Mustang gets a ship, Darrow needs to formulate an escape plan. Sevro reveals he has taken Lysander hostage.

With Darrow in the lead, he, Sevro, and the Howlers jump out of the window and go to where Augustus and his supporters are being held, but they are gone. Instead, they find a room of murdered Pinks, Violets, and Browns. Augustus’s people are fighting Bellonas and Praetorians, and Darrow’s group jumps into the fight. Outnumbered, Darrow and the others use their gravBoots to leave the fight as Aja arrives. A Praetorian Gold follows Darrow with an Obsidian and asks why Darrow is not in his room. Darrow suggests he is operating on the Sovereign’s orders, but the Praetorian knows he is lying.

The Praetorian takes him to Aja, who says most of Augustus’s party are alive and hiding in the lagoon, though they are nearly out of oxygen. Aja tells Darrow to return to his room, and they will forgive him for killing the Sovereign’s Grays. Darrow refuses and reveals Lysander, bound and gagged, demanding Aja stand down and let Augustus’s party escape or Darrow will kill him. Aja is disgusted by Darrow, but Lysander says he knows it is all part of the game. Mustang arrives with the ship and Aja allows Augustus and his supporters to escape. Darrow and Quinn remain with Aja while the others board the ship, and Octavia speaks to Darrow through Aja, warning him to use the bargaining chip of Lysander wisely. As Darrow and Quinn make to depart, Aja grabs Quinn and punches her in the head causing her to seize, knowing that Darrow will have to choose between helping Quinn and keeping his weapon trained on Lysander.