Trial of the Sun Queen

At Aurora Keep, Nadir lands on his father’s study balcony and dispels his magical wings. He confirms King Rion is away. Nadir unlocks the door with magic, enters, and casts a sound-muffling ward to search for prisoner 3452’s file. His sister, Amya, arrives and questions his fixation with the prisoner, but he dismisses Amya’s questions. Nadir detects and dismantles layered wards on Rion’s desk but finds nothing. Hearing voices approach, he reassembles the wards and flees with Amya just before Rion enters the study.

Shortly after the first trial, Lor wakes in her bedroom to find Atlas at her bedside. He tells her she passed the trial, as survival was the true test. He reports the fates of the others: Elanor and Marici are eliminated but safe, but Solana has died. Atlas praises Lor’s courage in saving Marici.

Atlas explains the Sun Mirror weighs his feelings when it chooses a queen. With Lor’s consent, he kisses her passionately. Mag interrupts with a food tray. Atlas dismisses Madame Odell’s strict standards as irrelevant to his decisions and invites Lor to a private dinner.