A Court of Silver Flames
by Sarah J. Maas
Contents
Chapter Sixty-Nine
Overview
As the Blood Rite nears its end, Nesta pushes Gwyn and Emerie toward Ramiel’s summit despite injury, thirst, and Bellius’s group closing in behind them. When she realizes they cannot all outrun or survive the attackers, Nesta chooses to stay at the Pass of Enalius, knocks Gwyn unconscious so Emerie can carry her onward, and prepares to die buying them time.
At the same time, Cassian and Azriel’s pursuit of Eris and Briallyn turns into a trap that reveals a larger threat: Briallyn’s presence is only a magical decoy, and Koschei is the one waiting at the lake. The chapter splits both storylines toward confrontation, with Nesta making a sacrificial stand and Cassian facing the ancient force manipulating events.
Summary
Cassian and Azriel shadow Eris and Briallyn’s caravan east for three days, worried because the Blood Rite is nearly over and Cassian has felt nothing from Nesta. In an ancient forest surrounding a dark lake, they move in on the camp, only for Eris to reveal the pursuit was expected by pressing Nesta’s Made dagger to Cassian’s ribs. Eris taunts them, and Briallyn’s voice announces that she has already trapped them.
On Ramiel, Nesta, Gwyn, and Emerie keep climbing despite exhaustion, thirst, and worsening injuries. Gwyn’s leg bleeds heavily, Emerie twists her ankle, and the mountain seems to drag their worst thoughts to the surface. When Bellius and six other males appear behind them, Nesta realizes Gwyn and Emerie cannot survive a fight in their condition, so she hoists Gwyn onto her back and forces herself upward, using the strength she built on the House of Wind stairs.
The three women reach the Pass of Enalius, and Emerie is overwhelmed to stand where none of her ancestors ever did. But the last stretch remains brutal. Nesta falls while trying to climb a cluster of rocks with Gwyn on her back, and they tumble all the way to the pass again, dangerously close to their pursuers. Seeing that the males will catch them before the summit, Nesta decides she must stay behind and hold them at the bottleneck so Gwyn and Emerie still have a chance to win.
Gwyn refuses to abandon Nesta and breaks down, insisting they face death together. Moved by Gwyn’s loyalty and love, Nesta promises they will, then secretly uses a pressure point Cassian taught her to knock Gwyn unconscious. Emerie understands the sacrifice, takes Gwyn onto her own back, and after a brief, emotional exchange about friendship and debt, continues toward the summit with Gwyn while Nesta remains behind.
Meanwhile, Cassian and Azriel learn the truth of their own trap. The caravan has vanished, and the cloaked Briallyn beside Eris proves to be only an animated shell of magic. A shadowy male form standing upon the lake identifies the real power behind the snare: Koschei. Back beneath the Pass of Enalius, Nesta drinks the last of her water, arms herself with sword, dagger, and shield, draws a line in the dirt, watches Emerie and Gwyn continue upward, and steps forward alone to make her final stand.
Who Appears
- Nesta Archeroncarries Gwyn up Ramiel, chooses sacrifice, and prepares to hold off the pursuing males alone
- Gwynbadly wounded Valkyrie who refuses to abandon Nesta and is knocked unconscious to save her
- Emerieinjured but determined Valkyrie who helps Gwyn and continues toward the summit
- Cassiantracks Eris and Briallyn, is ambushed, and realizes the trap leads to Koschei
- Azrielfollows Cassian in the pursuit and confronts the trap at the lake
- Erisappears to betray Cassian and Azriel, luring them into the enemy’s setup
- Koscheiancient force revealed at the lake as the true presence behind the ambush
- Briallynuses a magical projection to bait Cassian and Azriel to Koschei
- Belliusleads the group of males climbing after Nesta, Gwyn, and Emerie