The Prisoner's Throne
by Holly Black
Contents
Chapter 20
Overview
Summary
Still slowed by blusher mushroom, Oak watches as Taryn weeps over Garrett's body. Cardan, drawing on his power over the land, transforms the dying spy into a flowering tree, hoping the slowed poison will preserve him in arboreal form, though no one knows if Garrett still suffers. Taryn accuses Wren of the poisoning, having seen her by Garrett's horse, and Wren refuses to deny it. Bogdana, in vulture form, digs talons into Wren's shoulder, drawing blood, while Wren tells Oak cryptically, "I'm not the one who needs saving."
A second body is discovered: Lady Elaine, also poisoned. Cardan orders Wren confined to a tent under Tiernan's guard and summons Hyacinthe. Oak, frustrated, publicly reveals that Garrett killed his first mother Liriope and that his family hid it from him. The Roach escorts Oak to Insear, gently probing whether Oak poisoned Garrett, and promises to search Garrett's quarters for whatever urgent message he meant to deliver.
At Insear, Oak is dressed by Tatterfell in a tent oddly marked with Dain's crest, then escorted to Jude and Cardan's pavilion. Jude reveals Wren and Tiernan have escaped, suspecting Oak's involvement. Before Oak can fully explain his past infiltration of conspiracies, Randalin springs his trap: bolts and a thrown dagger strike, the latter lodging in Cardan's chest after his enchanted cloak deflects the arrows. Randalin reveals he conspired with Bogdana to install Oak and Wren as new monarchs, killed Garrett for getting close to the truth, and killed Elaine when she tried to back out. A storm raised by Bogdana isolates Insear.
Oak falls into his battle trance and slaughters Randalin's planted guards, nearly striking Jude before snapping out of it. The Roach, the Bomb, Hyacinthe, Madoc, and even wounded Cardan have helped fight off the attackers. Jude, horrified at Oak's killing skill, blames Madoc; Oak insists the choice was his own. Cardan, bleeding and suspicious, orders Oak imprisoned and Wren and Bogdana killed on sight. Oak refuses, declaring the situation his responsibility. With Hyacinthe at his back—going for Tiernan's sake—Oak walks out armed to confront Wren himself, while Jude lets him go, believing her brother already lost.
Who Appears
- OakPrince still affected by poison; reveals Garrett killed Liriope, slaughters Randalin's assassins in a trance, and leaves to confront Wren.
- WrenSilent under accusation, endures Bogdana's talons, cryptically tells Oak she isn't the one needing saving, then escapes with Tiernan.
- CardanHigh King who transforms Garrett into a tree, is stabbed by Randalin but survives, and orders Oak imprisoned and Wren killed.
- JudeHigh Queen who suspects Oak's complicity, is shaken by his killing prowess, and ultimately lets him leave believing him lost.
- RandalinMinister of Keys revealed as the conspiracy's mastermind allied with Bogdana; stabs Cardan but is killed by Oak.
- TarynGrieves over Garrett's body, accuses Wren of his poisoning, and demands arrests of the suspected conspirators.
- BogdanaStorm hag in vulture form who pierces Wren's shoulder and raises a storm trapping Insear; secret partner in Randalin's coup.
- The RoachGoblin spy who comforts Oak, gently questions him, and promises to search Garrett's quarters for hidden information.
- HyacintheDetained but fights for the royals; chooses to accompany Oak to find Wren for Tiernan's sake.
- Garrett (the Ghost)Poisoned spy preserved by Cardan as a flowering tree; killed by Randalin for nearing the conspiracy's truth.
- Lady ElaineConspirator found poisoned after trying to withdraw from the plot.
- MadocRedcap father who fights at Oak's side and is accused by Jude of having shaped Oak into a killer.
- OrianaOak's mother, shielding Leander from the carnage and wearing an anguished expression at Oak's revelations.
- TatterfellImp servant who dresses Oak in a tent oddly marked with Dain's crest.
- Jack of the LakesKelpie companion who shifts forms and charms Tatterfell, staying behind when Oak is summoned.
- TiernanOak's bodyguard charged with watching Wren; vanishes with her from her tent.
- The BombSpy who appears to help fight the assassins and asks about the poison's source.
- FalaRoyal fool present in the council, wounded during the attack.