The Runaway King

After a difficult fight, Jaron wins the duel and, in exchange for his life, Devlin promises to let him go free and unharmed. Jaron accepts, under the condition that Devlin’s mercy be offered to Imogen instead. Devlin accepts, and he lets Imogen go. After she leaves, the pirates get a hold of Jaron again and prepare to torture him.

As Agor is about to whip Jaron, he is interrupted by Roden, who has returned from a raid. Roden is shocked to see Jaron amongst the pirates. He then challenges Devlin’s claim over Jaron’s life, as the pirate king once promised him that he would be the one to kill the Carthyan king. Devlin refuses, arguing that Jaron must be punished for lying and breaking the pirate code. He and Roden fight, and Roden soon overpowers both Agor and Devlin. After killing them, he proclaims himself the new pirate king and orders the pirates to secure Jaron in a cell while he decides what to do with him.

Jaron is locked in the same cell as Fink. The young boy offers him his friendship, but Jaron tells Fink to pretend that he hates him so the pirates will not think of him as an accomplice. Erick is later brought to the cell as well, and he is angry at Jaron’s betrayal of his trust.

Roden and some of the pirates visit Jaron in his cell. The young king tells Roden that he always hoped to make things better between them, but Roden is not convinced. He intends to kill Jaron that night after the feast celebrating his (Roden’s) ascension to the pirate throne. However, Roden is familiar with Jaron’s escaping skills and does not trust him even in a locked cell. As a result, he breaks one of Jaron’s legs to make sure he cannot go anywhere, and the latter passes out.

Jaron wakes up a few hours later. He tries to make amends with Erick, sharing his honest estimation of Erick’s good character, telling him: “You may be a thief, but there is far more good in you than bad. I’m better off for knowing you” (274). He then convinces Fink to help him unlock his chains with Imogen’s pin, which he had hidden in one of his boots. Erick gives them a hand to break through the cell window, which overlooks a steep cliff over the sea. Jaron pushes himself out and starts climbing up the wall of stone.

After an excruciatingly difficult climb due to his injured leg, Jaron gets to the top of the cliff. He takes a moment to recover, then starts crawling toward the pirates’ dining hall, where the feast in Roden’s honor is being held. On his way there, he realizes that Imogen, who has been planting flowers all over the pirates’ camp, has in fact been secretly burying weapons for him in case he found himself in any danger. Jaron then digs up a knife, before entering the hall and challenging Roden to a duel.

Roden is incredulous, but he accepts Jaron’s challenge despite the young king being obviously wounded and weak. During their duel, Jaron tries to convince Roden to join his side and become Carthya’s captain of the guard. He argues that Roden fighting fairly despite his hatred for Jaron shows his true nature, and that his skills would be better used in Carthya. Despite clearly overpowering Jaron, Roden eventually accepts. He makes a show of surrendering to Jaron and swears loyalty to the Carthyan king, who passes out.

Jaron wakes up in a bed with Roden at his side, offering tentative friendship. Having officially defeated him, Jaron is now king of the pirates. He puts Erick in charge of the pirates in his stead and orders him to convince the pirates to swear fealty to Carthya. Finally, he begins preparations for his return to Libeth, where Imogen and Mott are waiting.

On the way to Libeth, Jaron’s health deteriorates, and he loses consciousness. He wakes up in Harlowe’s house after a surgeon has taken care of his injured leg. Harlowe is by his side, and Jaron apologizes to him profusely. Jaron returns to Harlowe his son’s pocket watch and asks him to take the role of his prime regent, which Harlowe accepts.

Jaron apologizes to Imogen and Mott for what he has put them through. Mott forgives him, but Imogen later tells him that she cannot return to the castle. She realizes that their feelings for each other have changed, and she does not want to jeopardize his relationship with Amarinda. To avoid complicating their situation, Imogen decides to stay in Libeth and help take care of Nila. Jaron is heartbroken, and he tells her that they will always be connected.

Jaron, Mott, and Roden meet Tobias and Amarinda in Farthenwood, where Jaron and Tobias exchange their clothes so Jaron can assume his place as king again. Amarinda and Jaron have a heart-to-heart talk, during which she reveals that she only befriended Gregor because she suspected him and wanted to gain his trust so she could find proof of his disloyalty. In the end, Jaron and Amarinda become closer and vow to be honest with each other.

They all return to the castle in Drylliad, where Jaron is greeted by a crowd of overjoyed Carthyans. He is reassured to find that his people do love him, despite his earlier belief that he could only let them down.

Two months later, Jaron is informed that the Avenian army has crossed their borders. They have destroyed Libeth, taken Imogen as a hostage, and officially declared war.