Shield of Sparrows

Odessa sneaks back into the palace through the deserted east-wing gallery, which features gruesome pieces of artwork of the crux, “eagle-like” creatures that fly over Calandra each migration and slaughter many people. The last migration was 30 years ago, and scholars predict that the next migration could come as early as next spring—less than a year away. In the hall, Odessa crosses paths with the Voster priest who serves as her father’s emissary. His chilling presence always unnerves her. Power radiates off him, sickening Odessa. He uses magic to lift the water from her hair, swirling it into a crown that hovers above her head. Though Odessa knows that the Voster brotherhood uses its magic to deliver messages, she rushes away without attempting a guess at what his message means.

Odessa’s stepmother, Margot, aids her in getting ready for the meeting with the Turans while Odessa’s handmaidens, Brielle and Jocelyn, are busy in the southeast wing, where the Turans are staying. The ocean washed out much of the brown dye in Odessa’s red hair, so Margot pours brown powder back into it to disguise the natural color, hiding any trace of Odessa’s birth mother. Like always, Odessa is dressed in shades of gray. Margot scolds Odessa for swimming in the ocean, reminding her that the Turans have come to kill the monsters—marroweels—that have been disrupting Quentis’s trade routes for the past year. If their trade routes aren’t secure and the kingdoms of Laine, Genesis, Ozarth, and Turah don’t get their shipments, they might see it as an invitation to start a war. With the crux migration nearing, no one can afford a war.

Everyone gathers in the throne room, where the Turans—including Prince Zavier Wolfe and the Guardian—are in attendance. Odessa’s father offers to pay the Turans in coin for killing the marroweels. Prince Zavier is rumored not to talk, so the Guardian is brought forward to speak on his behalf. The Guardian is amused, but Zavier looks bored at the prospect of meeting Mae, his future wife. Rather than accept the offered coin as payment, an unspoken conversation seems to happen between Zavier and the Guardian. The Guardian then states that, as payment, Zavier has chosen to marry Odessa.

Odessa’s family and fiancé protest this choice, but the Guardian only laughs. Their protests hold little weight because the Turans have killed seven female marroweels. According to the High Priest of the Vosters, who has accompanied the Turans to Quentis, the Turans have completed the ancient rite of the Chain of Sevens. To kill seven females of any monster is to “alter the chain of life” (44). The magic has sealed the Chain of Sevens, and any warrior who completes it receives a prize of their choosing. Therefore, Odessa’s family can’t challenge Zavier’s decision to wed Odessa to fulfill both the Chain of Sevens and the Shield of Sparrows.

After the declaration, the Turans exit the room, leaving Odessa behind with her father, Margot, Mae, her father’s Voster emissary, and Banner. The emissary, Brother Dime, claims that there is no way to evade Odessa’s fate. Odessa’s father is clearly upset; she focuses on his eyes, which contain the amber starbursts that appear in the eyes of every Quentin. Odessa’s eyes are not like everyone else’s: Hers are pure gold with no starburst.

Odessa’s father dismisses everyone from the room except for immediate family. He tells Odessa that she must take over the mission Mae trained for: find the way into the Turans’ secret capital city of Allesaria and inform him on how to infiltrate it. Brielle and Jocelyn will accompany her, and she will send the information back with one of them. He also tasks Odessa with learning everything about the Guardian and his powers. If she has the opportunity to kill him, she must do so. He alludes to something that he wants inside Allesaria—something crucial to stopping the next crux migration.

Margot prepares Odessa for her wedding night. The broken engagement with Banner does not bother Odessa, as Brielle has informed her before that Banner has a lover in the city. Odessa thinks of the former Turan capital, Perris, which the last crux migration completely destroyed. After that, the Turan king moved his stronghold into the mountains and built Allesaria. No foreigners have ever been allowed there.

Odessa’s stepmother promises that Odessa can say goodbye to her four-year-old brother, Arthalayus (Arthy), before she leaves with the Turans. Left alone before the ceremony, Odessa pries up the loose floorboard in the corner of her closet and retrieves a necklace and sketchbook from inside. The necklace, which she found 13 years ago, has a pendant with “a wing of silver […] inlaid in a circle” of “red and orange and as bright as the harvest moon” (67). She likes to pretend that it belonged to a long-forgotten family member. Mae visits Odessa before the marriage ceremony, and they share a hug. Odessa’s father then enters her rooms and cuts Odessa’s hand to fill a vial with her blood, which she will later use to sign the Shield of Sparrows.

A select few Quentins and Turans gather in the castle sanctuary, where Odessa and Zavier will wed. Odessa and Zavier are brought to the altar to sign the Shield of Sparrows with their blood. The treaty declares that the king cannot kill his “sparrow” (the princess chosen to marry into another kingdom) and vice versa, “either directly or indirectly, without death befalling them both” (75). (It is later revealed that the Guardian secretly speaks the oaths on Zavier’s behalf.) The marriage is sealed without even a kiss. Without looking at her, Zavier declines the celebratory feast that Odessa’s father offers and exits the room. Odessa tries to follow, unsure of what she should do, but the Guardian stops her, laughing. He informs her that she will sail with the Turans at dawn.

Odessa’s family gathers at the docks to see her off; unfortunately, her stepmother does not bring Arthy, so Odessa isn’t able to say goodbye to her younger brother. The Guardian teases Odessa about how she must have spent her last night in Quentis, hinting that she might have spent it with Banner. He also seems to disapprove of her dyed hair.

Odessa learns that Mae knows what their father wants from Allesaria. It stings that her father entrusted Mae with that information but prefers that Odessa remain oblivious. It also bothers her that he expects her to trust him fully but doesn’t do the same in return.

Brielle and Jocelyn are already on the ship when Odessa boards. They are in low spirits, as they did not have time to say goodbye to their families. The three of them will be sharing a room; Odessa is relieved that she will not have to share with Zavier. As the ship sets sail, Zavier approaches Odessa while her handmaidens are below decks. He speaks to Odessa, revealing that he can talk but chooses not to publicly. This gives him power, as it usually prompts those in his presence to overshare to fill the silence.

Brielle and Jocelyn spend their first night aboard seasick, but the rocking lulls Odessa into easy sleep. When she wakes, she finds pants and boots at the door of their cabin. Odessa remains obstinately in her dresses. The Guardian greets her above decks with his usual amusement and arrogance, which irks Odessa. She is surprised when he jumps overboard and swims to a nearby Turan ship with speed and strength of which no ordinary man would be capable. Zavier greets her shortly after. He has again trusted Odessa with the secret that he can speak, implying that she is now Turan while Brielle and Jocelyn are not. She decides to earn his trust by keeping this secret from them.

Eventually, Odessa tries on the pants left for her and finds she enjoys the freedom and comfort of the Turan clothing. While Brielle goes above decks with Odessa for fresh air, Jocelyn stays below. The Guardian is back onboard after a few days on the other ship and greets them.

When a marroweel attacks the ship, the Guardian instructs the women to stay abovedeck, where it’s safest, and to hold on tight. Odessa defies his orders by going below in search of Jocelyn, who might be in danger should the eel breach the ship. She meets Jocelyn halfway down, and they emerge above just as the eel attacks again, tipping the ship precariously. Without a handhold, Odessa begins to slide toward the ship’s edge. She manages to catch herself on the ship’s rail, but before she can gain purchase, another lurch from the marroweel’s attack throws her into the sea.

Odessa swims for her life as the marroweel pursues her. The Guardian shoots a harpoon into the water beside her, and Odessa grabs it so that they can reel her in. As they lift her from the water, the Guardian aims another harpoon, shooting the marroweel as it leaps up to attack her. Odessa is safely back onboard, along with the body of the dead marroweel. The Guardian angrily tells her to obey his orders from now on. Odessa states that she will when it is a matter of safety but not otherwise, surprising them both. She begrudgingly thanks him for saving her life.

The following morning, Odessa approaches the dead marroweel, which is hanging from the ship’s mast and bleeding into a bucket. She notes its white eyes and green blood. When she asks why it bleeds green, unlike the slain females that bled red, the Guardian ignores her question. Odessa then asks if she should worry about another marroweel attack. The Guardian informs her that there are many creatures to fear in these waters. Odessa makes a witty retort calling him one of those monsters, but the Guardian replies seriously, “Not all monsters are born from the gods […] Some of us were made” (137), implying he considers himself a monster too.

The Guardian promises to keep Odessa safe, but she is tired of relying on men for this. She claims to want a sword, but Zavier doesn’t want her to hurt herself. Nevertheless, the Guardian offers Odessa his sword and tasks her with keeping it aloft and aimed at his throat. She strains under the weight of the weapon but stubbornly keeps it raised as long as possible. The Guardian easily disarms her and retrieves his sword, but Zavier agrees to give her a sword of her own. Odessa heads below deck but pauses halfway down. She overhears Zavier tell the Guardian, “[I]t’s spreading.” Odessa wonders if they’re talking about whatever is affecting the marroweels.