The Poisoned King

Before going to the castle, Anya and Christopher climb to Arach’s cave carrying venison mixed with freshly made antidote. Christopher puts a sphinx tooth in his mouth and calls for Arach, who drags himself forward near death. After eating, the dragon revives. Though his eyes are still filmed, Arach can see light and color for the first time since being blinded. He roars and unleashes flames, overjoyed to see fire colors again.

Grateful, Arach offers to fly them to Argen Castle and burn it once he regains his strength. Anya thanks him but explains they cannot spare a single day. They leave Arach as he watches the sun rise. Anya reflects that Arach’s protection would be comforting, but “she must be her own dragon now” (222).

At moonrise, Anya and Christopher reach Winged Cove beneath Argen Castle, where unicorns bathe. Christopher uses the sphinx tooth to communicate with the unicorns. The winged creatures agree to carry the group to the castle.

Before they depart, Anya explains Jacques’s crucial role: flying into the castle to summon Claude. The chimaera protests that this is too dangerous for Jacques without his fire. Jacques bravely states he is ready for the task, although he is clearly afraid. Anya performs a deep curtsy, demonstrating her respect for Jacques. Christopher asks if Anya wants to change her mind. A voice from the shadows declares that “it is too late” (225).

Guard Roegan emerges with three soldiers, a crossbow aimed at Anya’s chest. He plans to kill Christopher and deliver Anya to Claude. Christopher steps in front of Anya and calls the unicorns, who stampede the guards. Anya and Christopher bind the guards with rope.

Christopher takes Roegan’s uniform and papers, and Anya gives him her last stem of rascovnic to unlock the castle door. A unicorn breathes a blast of glimourie, a magical power, on him. He mounts one unicorn with the chimaera, while Anya mounts another. Christopher departs, and Anya flies toward the castle. Jacques has summoned Claude, who waits before the castle doors, smiling.

Aware that there are witnesses to their reunion, Claude embraces Anya, weeping with apparent joy. After taking her to his study, he presents his niece with poisoned strawberry cordial. Anya coughs—the signal—and Jacques bursts through the window carrying water, colliding with the chandelier. The room plunges into darkness filled with smoke and spilled liquid.

Unseen in the dark, Anya splashes Claude with the poisoned drink and then swallows the antidote. When Claude relights the candles, she calmly drinks the cordial, toasting her father. Agony tears through her as the poison works. She chokes, grabs her throat, and falls to her knees, then face-first onto the floor. Claude checks her pulse, breath, and heartbeat. Finding none, he confirms she is dead. Believing nothing now stands between him and the throne, he proclaims, “Long live the king” (225).

As Christopher walks through the forest, a soldier, Samvel, challenges him. Christopher, wearing Roegan’s uniform, claims to be on the Regent’s mission, but Samvel is unconvinced. On Christopher’s instructions, the chimaera’s snake head bites the soldier, knocking him out but stopping short of killing him.

Christopher reflects on Anya’s bravery and friendship. He thinks about how having someone to “move through the world with” (23) changes everything. Gallia guides him to a spot where he whistles with the sphinx tooth, summoning a flock of red and gold birds.

Twelve hours after Anya’s apparent death, her funeral convenes in the Amber Hall. Five hundred mourners fill the space and overflow, weeping for the princess. Some suspect that Anya’s death is suspicious, but a man who voiced this opinion in public has since disappeared.

Trumpets sound as bearers carry Anya’s body down the aisle on a carved stretcher. She wears a white gown and jewels, with the loquillan on her chest, while Jacques hides in her hair. Claude tells the crowd that Anya’s weak heart could not bear the shock of her father’s death sentence. The doors burst open.

Christopher storms up the aisle in a guard’s uniform, accompanied by gaganas and the chimaera. He accuses Claude of killing his father and niece, and of framing his brother. Claude orders guards to arrest him, but Chancellor Rillian Gerund demands that Christopher be heard.

Christopher explains that Claude is covered in his own poison, as Anya splashed him with the liquid before drinking. He whistles with the sphinx tooth, and the Poison Flock of red firebirds sweeps into the room. The birds circle Claude, snapping at his hair, shoes, and clothing, detecting poison. The room erupts in cries of treachery and murder.

Unnoticed, Koo pecks Anya’s cheek, drawing blood to wake her. As soldiers move to attack Christopher, Anya rises and commands the guards to stand down. She curtsies to the room and declares that she “refused to die” (245).

Silence fills the hall as Anya explains how she found an antidote and made it with Christopher. Jacques announces the banished book of poisons revealed the antidote’s glimourie power—those who take it before poison seem dead but can be awakened by blood. Anya chose to take this risk.

Claude orders guards to seize Anya, but the general declares they now serve the princess. Arach crashes through the window, demanding vengeance for his murdered family. Anya touches his muzzle and whispers that Claude is hers. The general moves to arrest Claude, but Anya orders everyone back. As she does so, Claude draws his sword.

As Claude lunges at Anya, gaganas swarm him. Anya strikes with her own sword, and he falls. The birds seize Claude’s weapon and throw it out the window.

As Anya holds her blade to Claude’s throat, he mocks his brother’s “weakness,” declaring that he would have made Dousha powerful with the stolen dragons’ gold. She cuts his ear, arm, and chin, ordering him to stay still. Twelve tears run down Anya’s face as she hesitates, knowing she is capable of killing her uncle. As the tears land on the loquillan, Anya sees a vision: If she kills Claude, she becomes a merciless ruler, forever poisoned by hatred.

Anya drops the sword, telling Claude she will not surrender her heart to kill him. She also renounces the throne, declaring they “will find a better way” (254). She walks down the aisle as Arach follows. Everyone bows and curtsies: a tribute to her bravery, not her former royal status.

Argus Argen waits in his cell as the time for his execution approaches. The door flies open, and Anya throws herself into her father’s arms. As Argus tightly embraces her, the burning in Anya’s throat vanishes, and her heart brims with joy.

Anya abolishes Dousha’s monarchy and establishes a parliament of 50 humans and 50 creatures, including gaganas, dryads, a mermaid, and unicorns. Most of the gold stolen by Claude is retrieved and returned to the dragons. However, some remains hidden.

A month after his arrest, Claude escapes by bribing a jailer. A manhunt begins across the Archipelago. Anya is frustrated by the news but knows she and Christopher have the antidote to protect those who need it. She and her father prepare to leave Dousha.

Less than two months later, Anya travels to Glimt. Irian has expanded the island’s sanctuary to include young humans in need of care, protection, or education. Anya is to study there, and her father is the palace’s new gardener. They are also accompanied by the gaganas, who remain fiercely loyal to Anya.

Anya is delighted to discover that Christopher is also a student at Glimt. He explains that his father was initially reluctant to let him leave the Outerlands again, but Frank helped persuade him. Christopher reveals that Dr. Ferrara now assists his grandfather at the Scottish waybetween. Meanwhile, Arach has replaced the chimaera guardian of the New York waybetween. His predecessor was found dead with his eyes stolen.

Argus gives Jacques rascovnic to unlock his blocked fire. After Jacques swallows the herb, he unleashes a vast flame that makes the ocean bubble.

On their third day at Glimt, Anya and Christopher witness Nighthand preparing to leave. He tells Irian he cannot stay and remain a Berserker, as Berserkers never allow themselves to love. Irian suggests that it is worth feeling fear to experience love, “the greatest weapon” against cruelty (266). She adds that fear can also encompass wisdom. Nighthand holds out his hand, and Irian takes it. They kiss, then go off together.

On the first hot spring day, Anya and Christopher stand on the lawn, and the island’s creatures come to greet them. Christopher observes that a boat is approaching, steered by Ratwin.

Nighthand announces that he and Irian have found the new Immortal soul after searching for a year. A woman named Senan steps ashore carrying a baby boy named Teren. The boy looks “very young and entirely ancient” (270), and has an apple-shaped birthmark on his palm. When Teren sees Christopher, his face transforms with joy, and he says his first word: “Christopher.” Teren’s expression reminds Christopher of Mal Arvorian.

A clan of red-winged dragons finds water at a well. They drink the acrid water eagerly and die. Claude Argen watches from hiding, then fills a sack with their gold—enough to start a luxurious new life in the Outerlands.

Claude does not notice a batrachomyomachian mouse bite each dragon’s neck to draw blood. Nor does he see the dragons open their eyes and lick their lips. Claude does not know that Anya and Christopher sent antidote to every dragon in the Archipelago.

As Claude reaches the hilltop with the gold, 16 dragons appear overhead. From Glimt’s tallest tower, miles away, Anya watches as the dragons’ fire lights up the horizon in blazing shades of yellow, red, and blue. The hill where Claude stood is left scorched and topped with nothing but molten gold.