House of Earth and Blood
by Sarah J. Maas
Contents
Chapter Eighteen
Overview
Bryce and Hunt enter the Meat Market, where Bryce skillfully negotiates the purchase of obsidian salt—a substance powerful enough to summon major demons—from a terrified satyr dealer, leveraging threats involving the Viper Queen and Jesiba Roga. Hunt grows more suspicious that Bryce may be involved in the murders, but plays along. As they leave the satyr's room, they are confronted by the Viper Queen herself.
Summary
Hunt catches up to Bryce at the Meat Market after tracking her scent. Despite his fury, Bryce is calm and even teasing, noting he's "two minutes late." She reveals she's not there to contact the Viper Queen as Hunt assumed, but has a specific errand in mind. They enter the labyrinth of subterranean warehouses that make up the Meat Market, a lawless district even the Governor's legionaries avoid. Bryce demonstrates familiarity with the place, exchanging nods with several vendors she knows through her work at the gallery and personal errands.
Bryce leads Hunt to the room of a pale-skinned satyr who deals in various salts—substances used for protection, spellwork, and demon summoning. She demands seven pounds, seven ounces of obsidian salt, a substance more powerful than ordinary black summoning salt, capable of summoning major demons from Hel by bypassing the Northern Rift entirely. Hunt is alarmed: not only does the salt imply dangerous dealings, but Bryce's knowledge of how to acquire it adds another mark in his mental "Suspect" column.
Bryce negotiates ruthlessly, leveraging threats against the satyr: she implies she could summon the Viper Queen, accuses the satyr of having sold obsidian salt to Philip Briggs for his bombs, and claims Jesiba Roga expects a call confirming the salt is in hand within minutes—with consequences if it isn't. The satyr initially demands fifty thousand gold marks but Bryce pressures him down to ten thousand. She silently asks Hunt to play along, and he cooperates, sensing this assignment will either be exciting or disastrous.
After Bryce makes a brief phone call to Jesiba confirming the purchase and telling her to "call off your dogs," the satyr produces the wrapped bundle of obsidian salt. Bryce verifies the weight, transfers ten thousand marks electronically, and heads out with the salt in a bag. Hunt is about to demand explanations when they step outside the satyr's door and find themselves face to face with the Viper Queen herself—a tall, striking woman with unmistakable serpentine green eyes.
Who Appears
- Bryce QuinlanHalf-Fae protagonist who navigates the Meat Market expertly, ruthlessly negotiating obsidian salt from a satyr dealer on Jesiba's orders.
- Hunt AthalarAngelic warrior and Bryce's assigned partner; follows her into the Meat Market, growing suspicious of her knowledge of demon-summoning materials.
- The Satyr (salt dealer)Pale, shrunken satyr in the Meat Market who deals in summoning salts; terrified into selling obsidian salt to Bryce at a reduced price.
- Jesiba RogaBryce's sorceress boss who ordered the obsidian salt purchase and confirms via phone that the deal is complete.
- The Viper QueenSerpentine shifter ruler of the Meat Market who appears at the satyr's door just as Bryce and Hunt exit.