Chapter 38: The Fall of Apollo
Contains spoilersOverview
Darrow survives Apollo’s engineered bear, reunites with Sevro, and, after removing their rings to evade surveillance, launches a fear-driven raiding campaign against House Apollo. Proctor Apollo confronts them, but Sevro and Tactus seize Apollo’s castle via its latrines.
In the ensuing battle, Darrow defeats Novas and captures House Apollo’s standard. Darrow then openly defies the Proctors and declares Jupiter his next target, escalating the conflict beyond the Houses.
Summary
A Carver-made white bear, unleashed by Proctor Apollo, ambushes Darrow in the Greatwoods. Darrow lures it into a spike pit but blunders into a snare and dangles for hours until Sevro finds and frees him. Back at camp with Mustang and the Howlers, Sevro reveals he lost an eye hunting the Jackal and shares rumors of the Jackal collapsing Pluto’s tunnels and forcing cannibal survival, which angers Mustang.
To evade Proctor surveillance, Darrow removes his ring and reveals his plan: fragment the army into small, mobile units under himself, Pax, Mustang, Tactus, Milia, and Nyla, while the Howlers stay with him. For a week they raid House Apollo’s holdings—burning supplies, crippling horses, fouling water, and spreading fear—while Darrow worries about further Proctor and Jackal interference.
Near Apollo’s castle, a jamField descends and Proctor Apollo enters their firelight with wine and a pulse spear, urging retreat north and belittling their prospects. Sevro excuses himself, secretly sprinting for Apollo’s castle. Darrow stalls and taunts Apollo, hinting at ArchGovernor-backed bribery and the consequences if Drafters learn of rigging. When the jamField drops, howls erupt from Apollo’s ramparts: Sevro, Tactus, and the Howlers have infiltrated through latrines and opened the way.
In the plaza battle, Novas wields a Proctor-gifted pulse spear, scattering defenders and knocking Pax down. Darrow and Pax coordinate: Pax halts and launches Darrow forward, letting him smash through bodyguards. Darrow breaks Novas’s leg and takes the spear while Mustang directs the fight. A single Apollo student flees under Proctor protection but Mustang, with Thistle and Pebble, recaptures her and the standard. Apollo falls in under thirty minutes. Darrow hurls the pulse spear at the watching Proctors, and as his army chants “Reaper,” he declares Jupiter his next foe.
Who Appears
- Darrow
Survives Apollo’s bear, removes his ring, leads raids, defeats Novas, captures House Apollo, and defies the Proctors.
- Sevro
One-eyed Howler who rescues Darrow, times a sprint to Apollo’s castle, infiltrates via latrines, and helps seize ramparts.
- Mustang (Virginia)
Allied leader; backs Darrow, commands in battle, angrily hears Jackal rumors, and recaptures Apollo’s standard on horseback.
- Proctor Apollo
Cheating Proctor who sends a Carver-bear, confronts the camp with a pulse spear, and fails to prevent Apollo’s fall.
- Pax au Telemanus
Launches Darrow into Novas’s guard, fights fiercely, is knocked down by the pulse spear, rallies the army’s roar.
- Tactus
Crude DeadHorse who infiltrates through latrines, claims a tower, and humiliates Apollo by pissing on their banner.
- Novas
House Apollo’s Primus armed with a pulse spear; dominates briefly before Darrow breaks his leg and captures him.
- Nyla
Former slave elevated to command; challenges Apollo verbally and leads a unit during the assault.
- Milia
Mars lieutenant who recommends Nyla, fights in the plaza, and is blasted back by Novas’s pulse spear.
- Thistle
Howler with a scalp collection; helps chase down Apollo’s fleeing standard bearer with Mustang.
- Pebble
Howler who joins Mustang and Thistle to run down the escaping Apollo girl and recover the standard.