House of Sky and Breath
by Sarah J. Maas
Contents
Chapter 74
Overview
Tharion escapes the rebel facility as Cormac, mortally wounded, sacrifices himself in a fiery blast that kills Pippa and destroys the mech lab. Beneath the Asteri’s palace, Bryce and Hunt are thrown into a cell with Ruhn, where Mordoc reveals that Rigelus orchestrated their capture by using scent-tracking to follow them.
The chapter sharpens the sense that the protagonists have been outmaneuvered at every step and are now completely at the Asteri’s mercy. Just as the Harpy begins torturing Ruhn, the Hind suddenly intervenes, creating the first unexpected shift in their hopeless situation.
Summary
At the rebel facility, Tharion tries to flee, but a mech-suit blocks his escape and fires on him. When Pippa shoots Cormac through the chest, Tharion hesitates because he wants to save him, but Cormac silently orders him to run. Tharion obeys, driven by the Viper Queen’s leash and the knowledge that if he does not reach water in time, he will lose his fins.
As Tharion escapes through the breach in the wall, he looks back and sees Pippa beside the advancing mech-suit and rows of unfinished mech hybrids beyond them. Then he sees the Asteri arrive. Cormac uses the last of his strength to erupt into a massive ball of fire, burning Pippa and the mech-pilot and engulfing the facility as Tharion flees toward the coast. Half a mile away, Tharion sees the entire building explode, killing Cormac and destroying the lab.
Elsewhere, Ruhn sits beaten and chained in a cell beneath the Asteri’s palace, trapped in gorsian shackles. Bryce and Hunt are brought in and chained beside him. Ruhn quickly realizes their attempt to help has failed, and Mordoc mocks them by revealing that Rigelus planned the capture and that Mordoc has been tracking their movements by scent throughout Lunathion.
Mordoc hints that Hunt smells unlike any other angel, suggesting there is something unusual about him, before the Harpy orders Mordoc out so she can begin tormenting the prisoners. Ruhn understands that they have walked directly into an Asteri trap and that neither Bryce’s powers nor outside help can save them now. Hunt tries to draw the Harpy’s attention away from Bryce and Ruhn, but she focuses on Ruhn instead, taunting Bryce and threatening brutal mutilation.
The Harpy presses a knife to Ruhn’s face and throat, intending to carve him apart while Bryce watches. Bryce strains against her chains and screams at the Harpy to stop, but the Harpy only enjoys her panic more. Just as the Harpy is about to drive the blade deeper into Ruhn’s throat, a golden blur slams into her and knocks her away. Ruhn recognizes the scent and sees that the one who intervened is the Hind.
Who Appears
- Ruhn Danaanimprisoned prince; endures beating and near torture after realizing Rigelus trapped them
- Tharion Ketosfleeing mer; escapes the rebel facility under attack and heads desperately for water
- Cormac Donnallmortally wounded prince who sacrifices himself in a fire blast to destroy the lab
- Bryce Quinlancaptured heroine; chained beside Ruhn and enraged as the Harpy threatens him
- Hunt Athalarcaptured angel who tries to divert the Harpy’s attention from Bryce and Ruhn
- The Harpysadistic interrogator who prepares to carve up Ruhn for Bryce to witness
- Mordocdreadwolf captain who reveals Rigelus used him to track the group by scent
- The Hindunexpected rescuer who suddenly attacks the Harpy at the chapter’s end
- Pippa Spetsosrebel leader who shoots Cormac and is consumed by his fire
- RigelusAsteri ruler whose trap and surveillance have guided the protagonists into capture
- The Asteriarrive at the rebel facility as Cormac unleashes his final explosion