Morning Star
by Pierce Brown
Contents
Chapter 54: The Goblin and the Gold
Overview
Aboard the Morning Star, Sefi lynches captured Golds and prepares to execute Cassius while Mustang is held in chains. Sevro reveals himself as Ares and engineers a shocking double hanging to force Sefi’s mercy. Sefi relents, and Sevro’s forgiveness speech steadies the rebellion, sparing Cassius and averting a schism.
Summary
Darrow lands on the Morning Star to find Mustang and the rescued Golds missing. Theodora reports riots and that Sefi has seized the highColor prisoners, including Cassius. The Telemanus clan arrives armed to storm the ship, but Darrow persuades Kavax—backed by Daxo—to stand down and accompany him to avoid igniting war.
They reach a packed hangar where seven Golds already hang and Sefi presides over a public trial. Cassius kneels, beaten and marked, while Mustang is confirmed alive but in chains elsewhere. Darrow challenges Sefi’s Ice justice, arguing Ragnar wanted mercy and a future beyond vengeance, as tension mounts and the volatile crowd sways.
Sevro suddenly appears as Ares, blasting Sefi’s knife away and claiming Cassius as his lawful blood debt. After forcing Cassius to admit the killing, Sevro shoves him off the walkway to hang—then loops a cable around his own neck and leaps too. As both choke, Darrow restrains Victra, trusting Sevro’s calculated gamble.
Confronted with Sevro’s act, Sefi hews through the cables, and the crowd catches both men. Sevro recovers and delivers a hoarse speech invoking Eo and Ares, renouncing revenge and publicly forgiving Cassius. The mob calms, Obsidian stand down, the Telemanuses hold, and a catastrophic intra-rebel bloodbath is averted while Mustang remains captive.
Who Appears
- Sevro au BarcaReveals himself as Ares, stages a double hanging, then forgives Cassius, calming and uniting the mob.
- Darrow of LykosStops the Telemanuses from attacking, confronts Sefi, and backs Sevro’s gambit to prevent a split.
- Sefi the QuietLeads hangar lynchings seeking vengeance; ultimately cuts the cables and yields to mercy.
- Cassius au BellonaBeaten prisoner who admits killing Ares; nearly executed, then spared by Sevro’s public forgiveness.
- Victra au JuliiSupports Darrow, restrains Kavax, nearly rushes to save Sevro before his point is made.
- Kavax au TelemanusArrives with armed family to rescue Mustang; stands down and accompanies Darrow.
- Daxo au TelemanusModerates his father and endorses Darrow’s plan to avoid bloodshed.
- Holiday ti KarnGuides Darrow through the ship, relays intel, and helps Cassius after the fall.
- TheodoraReports the riots and Mustang’s capture; coordinates with Sons of Ares.
- PebbleHowler who covers Cassius with her cloak after he is cut down.