A Court of Wings and Ruin
by Sarah J. Maas
Contents
Chapter Twenty Five
Overview
In the Hewn City, Rhysand publicly places Feyre on the single throne and helps her cow the Court of Nightmares into submission, cementing her status and warning the court against testing her. While Amren takes Nesta to work with the hidden trove, Rhysand meets Keir to secure the Darkbringers for the coming war.
Keir reveals sympathy for Hybern and tries to exploit Rhysand’s need by insulting Feyre as his possible price. Rhysand answers with lethal restraint and escalates the political game by summoning Eris, a move that immediately rattles Mor and signals deeper, painful leverage is about to be used.
Summary
Feyre enters the Hewn City with Rhysand, Mor, Azriel, Nesta, and Amren, and Amren has dressed Nesta in severe black rather than glamour. In the throne room, Feyre realizes Rhysand has arranged only one throne. Rhysand leads Feyre up to it, sets her on the seat of power, and perches on its arm before ordering the Court of Nightmares to bow, forcing them to acknowledge Feyre publicly as his equal and their ruler.
When the courtiers test Feyre with probing magic, Feyre seizes that power with her own and crushes it until its owners panic, flee, or faint. The display establishes that Feyre cannot be casually challenged and reminds the court that Rhysand’s mate is dangerous in her own right. While the crowd is driven into obedience and ordered to provide food and music, Amren and Nesta leave to examine the magical trove hidden in the Hewn City so Amren can continue training Nesta for the effort to repair the wall.
Rhysand then summons Keir to a private council meeting. Feyre sits opposite Rhysand at a long black table while Mor and Azriel flank one side and Keir takes the other. Keir immediately guesses that Rhysand wants the Darkbringers for the coming war and reveals that he feels sympathy for Hybern, claiming his people are similarly trapped and resentful.
The discussion turns openly hostile. Keir needles Azriel, dismisses Mor, and tries to use Rhysand’s need for his army as leverage. When Rhysand asks his price, Keir looks at Feyre and suggests Rhysand once sold himself to Amarantha, so perhaps his mate could be offered now. Rhysand responds with icy fury, warning that Keir’s ancient bargain does not protect him from death if Rhysand decides he has gone too far.
Rather than continue arguing, Rhysand reveals he anticipated Keir’s resistance and calls for someone to be brought in. The doors open, and Eris, heir to the Autumn Court, walks into the chamber. Mor turns white with dread, Azriel is instantly ready for violence, and Feyre realizes Rhysand has brought in a figure tied to Mor’s past in order to change the negotiation.
Who Appears
- Feyreclaims the Hewn City throne, intimidates the court, and witnesses Rhysand's war negotiation with Keir
- Rhysandstages Feyre's public elevation, demands Keir's Darkbringers, threatens Keir, and summons Eris
- Keirlord of the Court of Nightmares; resists aiding the war effort and provocatively names a cruel price
- Morfaces her family in the Hewn City and is shaken by Rhysand bringing in Eris
- Azrielguards the meeting, spars verbally with Keir, and readies himself when Eris appears
- Nestaenters the Hewn City with cold composure, then leaves with Amren to work with the hidden trove
- Amrenprepares Nesta for the visit and takes her away to continue training related to the wall
- Erisheir of the Autumn Court; his sudden entrance becomes Rhysand's next move against Keir