House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City)
by Sarah J. Maas
Contents
Chapter Seventy-Six
Overview
Bryce hides out in the gallery library, researching ways to free Hunt and secretly taking an Archesian amulet. Micah arrives, and Jesiba broadcasts the encounter to the Summit.
Micah reveals the library is the lost Parthos and pressures Bryce. Sandriel forbids aid as Micah demands Luna’s Horn.
Summary
After three days camping in the gallery library, Bryce cancels client meetings, showers on-site, and steals the last local Archesian amulet from Jesiba’s safe. With Lehabah, Bryce scours ancient legal texts for a way to commute Hunt’s sentence, but every path circles back to slavery. Syrinx stays close; the nøkk watches, grinning.
Micah unexpectedly enters the library, ignoring Bryce’s attempts to lure him upstairs and away from the shelves. He claims he is there for Bryce, not the art. Bryce maintains a casual front, preparing food and wine while covertly texting Jesiba.
At the Summit, as Sandriel drones on, Jesiba interrupts and has Declan stream Griffin Antiquities’ feeds to the room. Bryce’s text—Help—appears, prompting Ruhn to order aid and Flynn to scramble Aux, while Sandriel protests Micah’s innocence and tries to stop any response. Hunt, Ruhn, Declan, and others focus on the live audio as tension spikes.
Micah needles Bryce about her loyalty and Danika, then turns to the library’s contents: banned human knowledge once thought destroyed. He declares the collection to be the Great Library of Parthos. Jesiba remains silent but begs that the Aux save the books; Sandriel threatens her and forbids intervention. Bryce, wearing the Archesian amulet, signals Lehabah and Syrinx to flee, but they stay.
Feigning calm, Bryce sits when told. Micah makes his purpose explicit: he wants Bryce to hand over Luna’s Horn, setting the immediate stakes for a confrontation with no help coming from the Summit.
Who Appears
- Bryce QuinlanHides in the gallery library, researches legal loopholes, steals an Archesian amulet, and faces Micah’s demand for Luna’s Horn.
- Micah DomitusArrives at the library, reveals its identity as Parthos, taunts Bryce, and demands Luna’s Horn.
- Jesiba RogaBroadcasts the gallery feeds to the Summit and begs for the books to be saved, revealing Parthos’s stakes.
- Hunt AthalarWatches the feed in dread at the Summit; alarmed by Bryce’s ‘Help’ and Micah’s pressure.
- Ruhn DanaanOrders Flynn to dispatch the Aux upon seeing Bryce’s distress on the live feed.
- SandrielBlocks any aid to the gallery, defends Micah publicly, and threatens Jesiba.
- Declan EmmetLinks Jesiba’s phone to the Summit screens and streams the audio-visual feeds.
- Tristan FlynnAttempts to send Aux forces to Griffin Antiquities despite Sandriel’s resistance.
- Sabine FendyrWatches the feed, debates sending wolves, notes most top packs are at the Summit.
- LehabahHelps Bryce research; hides during Micah’s visit and ignores Bryce’s signal to flee.
- SyrinxGrowls at the intrusion, stays by Bryce despite her signals to run.
- Fury AxtarObserves the stream at the Summit, alarmed and demanding clarity.
- The Autumn KingDemands an explanation for Micah’s presence upon seeing the broadcast.
- Amelie RavenscroftSuggests sending a wolf pack while watching the feed with Sabine.
- The nøkkGrins from its tank throughout, an ominous observer of unfolding events.