Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 231436 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1157(@200wpm)___ 926(@250wpm)___ 771(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 231436 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1157(@200wpm)___ 926(@250wpm)___ 771(@300wpm)
After the attack at the Contou residence, Valyn tells everybody that the attackers were the Unseen and shares more information about the group.
In discussing the recent treason, he says he believes the Crown Guards involved in the attack spoke openly to those who weren’t, thus infecting them with their nonsense.
Upon their return to Atlantia, they see that the trees of Aios have turned from gold to red, and Valyn tells Cas that the people will see the shift as a sign of great change.
Valyn meets with Cas and Poppy at Cove Palace. When Eloana asks if Hawke’s grown taller, Valyn remarks that Cas stopped growing ages ago—right around when he stopped listening to his parents.
At one point, Valyn slips and calls Poppy Maiden. Cas threatens him and says to never call her that again.
After Poppy saves Marji, the young child who was run over by the carriage, they discuss Poppy’s abilities. Valyn knows of no other Ascended mortal with Atlantian blood who went through the Culling and didn’t become a vampry. Nor does he know of any living half-Atlantian descended from the gods. He then tells Poppy that it’s impossible for Cora and Leo to be her parents.
When they discuss Alastir’s part in all of what’s happened and what Valyn and Eloana knew and didn’t, Valyn says he knew that Alastir had found someone he believed to be Malec’s descendant but didn’t know anything about them.
It’s known that Valyn and Eloana have killed to protect the secret of Iliseeum. So, when pushed about what happened to Poppy and those they killed while protecting the realm of the gods, Valyn tells Cas that if he is to become King, he needs to learn to handle doing things that will turn his stomach and haunt his dreams.
They discuss Poppy’s heritage some more, and Valyn tells Poppy that no other deities could be her parents because Malec killed them all. Then he adds that, to him, her powers are too strong to be several generations removed. He goes on to say that the changes in the trees of Aios signify that a deity is in line to take the throne. He adds that Poppy’s mother would have to be nearly as old as Malec and either an Elemental Atlantian or of another important bloodline—possibly one they believe died out.
Talk turns to the prophecy, and Valyn admits his curiosity.
Poppy says she wants to destroy the Ascended, and Valyn believes he has a supporter in his war efforts. However, he tries to convince them not to rush to Spessa’s End to meet with the Ascended convoy and says that Cas is speaking like a man in love, not a King.
Valyn and Eloana return to the capital and relinquish their crowns. During discussions, Valyn knows Cas and Poppy want to talk about more than just what happened during their meeting with those in Solis. He refers to Ian as an Ascended and irritates Poppy. When he suggests that her claim to the throne might be contested, he is quickly put in his place.
During the meeting with the Council, Eloana tells him it’s time, making him allude to the fact that they don’t take the traditional route with anything. He sternly corrects Lord Gregori about Poppy’s heritage and is pleased by her show-of-force response.
Once Poppy and Cas are officially crowned, Valyn advises them that they will need to choose an Advisor. When Cas mentions he already knows who he will ask to be the Advisor to the Crown, Valyn agrees that Kieran is a good choice.
After the group decides to go to Iliseeum, Valyn remarks how waking Nyktos could be an unnecessary risk but says that he and Eloana will stay at the palace to serve as Crown surrogates while they are away.
After Casteel gives himself up to the Blood Crown, Valyn briefly sees Poppy after she returns to Evaemon without her husband and immediately leaves for the north.
With the army, he greets Poppy at the northernmost point of the kingdom and tells her that he knows she’ll get his son back. He adds that Cas is a very lucky man to have found her and made himself hers. Then he says that he and Eloana are even more fortunate to have her as their daughter-in-law.
With sadness, Valyn asks Poppy a favor. He requests that she make Malik’s death as quick and painless as possible if she should see him. She agrees to his request.
Valyn arrives in Massene, and Vonetta tells him what happened with the draken in Vessa’s storm. He gives Reaver his condolences for the loss of his brethren and sistren and vows to make the Blood Crown pay tenfold.
During discussions with the generals and others about Oak Ambler, Valyn challenges Gayla La’Sere when she says their methods before may have been brutal, but they were effective. He argues that given where they are now, they weren’t effective at all. They retreated. They didn’t win.