House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City)
by Sarah J. Maas
Contents
Chapter Eighty-Two
Overview
In the aftermath of killing Micah, Bryce covers it as a gas explosion, comforts Syrinx, and discovers the archives devastated and Lehabah gone. Meanwhile, the Summit descends into chaos as leadership scrambles.
Hypaxia frees Hunt, and city feeds reveal Micah’s Horn experiment has ignited a far larger crisis.
Summary
Bryce tells the arriving Aux it was a gas explosion, omitting any mention of Micah. She goes to Jesiba’s office to hold the sleeping Syrinx, answers Jesiba’s urgent messages, and confirms the Summit witnessed everything. Seeking Lehabah, Bryce descends into the flooded archives and finds only devastation and the nøkk’s corpse; there is no trace of the sprite who sacrificed herself.
Reflecting on Micah’s revelation that she is the living Horn, Bryce notes she feels unchanged and is relieved no portal opened. The antidote purges the synth from her system, leaving her vomiting and shaken. Hearing distant screams, she grabs Syrinx and runs, realizing the city faces a threat greater than any fallout from Micah’s death.
At the Summit, leaders reel as the Asterian Guard depart and Sandriel watches footage of Bryce vacuuming Micah’s ashes before leaving with her triarii. Ruhn and Flynn fear the authorities will kill Bryce for slaying a Governor, while the Autumn King directs Declan and techs to monitor citywide feeds and Aux movements.
Hunt slips free to sit with Ruhn and Flynn, dreading Sandriel’s potential ascension. Queen Hypaxia quietly unlocks Hunt’s manacles, warning there are bigger problems. The room falls silent as city cameras display evidence that Micah’s experiment with the Horn did not fail, signaling a new, escalating crisis overtaking Crescent City.
Who Appears
- Bryce QuinlanCovers up Micah’s death as a gas blast, comforts Syrinx, surveys the ruined archives, and hears citywide screams.
- Hunt AthalarAt the Summit, plans to protect Bryce; freed from manacles by Hypaxia; witnesses the unfolding city crisis.
- Queen Hypaxia EnadorDiscreetly unlocks Hunt’s gorsian manacles, noting larger issues now threaten the city.
- SandrielWatches Bryce’s aftermath on the feed, then exits with her triarii, likely to receive orders amid the chaos.
- Ruhn DanaanFears Bryce will be executed; coordinates with allies; reacts to city feeds showing a larger crisis.
- The Autumn KingDirects tech monitoring on multiple stations, tracking the gallery, news, and Aux movements.
- Declan EmmetRuns city cameras and surveillance feeds, revealing that Micah’s Horn experiment did not fail.
- Tristan FlynnArgues with the Fae command post and supports Ruhn as the situation deteriorates.
- Jesiba RogaTexts Bryce, confirms the Summit saw everything; her wards preserved the collection despite flooding.
- SyrinxRescued chimera; sleeps in Bryce’s lap as she steadies herself after the ordeal.
- LehabahAbsent, presumed gone; her sacrifice is felt in the ruined, silent archives.
- Pollux AntoniusRegains composure and swagger as he follows Sandriel out of the Summit chamber.
- Sabine FendyrUnseeing and shaken as events spiral; ignores offered water.
- The Prime of the WolvesAncient leader dozing in his chair, exhausted and near his last slumber.
- Amelie RavenscroftPale and shaken; offers water to Sabine during the Summit turmoil.