The Second Death of Locke

“We’re going to die in this armor, Mare had told her, gripping her hand, slippery with blood. We’re going to die under Scaelas’s banner, and for what?

For what they did to Locke, Grey did not answer then, even though the truth of it echoed all the way to her bones.”

In this flashback, the narrative juxtaposes Mare Concord’s cynical view of institutional duty with Grey’s secret, personal motivation for fighting. Mare’s bitter contempt at the idea of dying in battle frames military service as a pointless sacrifice. However, Grey internally refutes this sentiment by contemplating her intense need to avenge the death of her nation. By juxtaposing Mare’s spoken thought with Grey’s internal monologue, the author strategically reveals Grey’s motivations even as the protagonist continues to conceal her true identity. The passage therefore emphasizes The Burden of Secrets that Grey must continue to bear.

“It only took a moment for the boy’s brows to draw together. Another moment, and he drew a tiny flame between them, the earliest kind of standard magic they taught mages. He pulled back and said, ‘Oh.’ Kier looked at her hand, then at her. ‘What are you?’”

This flashback to a more innocent time depicts the foundational moment when Grey and Kier realize their magical connection. The young Kier’s simple question reflects his awestruck curiosity, and because he shows no fear, the moment establishes the basis of trust that defines their lifelong relationship. The question “What are you?” is also thematically significant, echoing throughout the novel as Grey grapples with the burden of her immense power and her hidden lineage.