House of Flame and Shadow
by Sarah J. Maas
Contents
Chapter Ninety-One
Overview
Tharion saves Bryce and Hunt from drowning and sends them onward, but loses most of the antidotes in the flood. Pollux reveals Ruhn was baited by a mystic-made lie and drags him into a trap, only to find Lidia has vanished. Tharion gives Lidia an antidote that fully heals her and ignites terrifying power, and Pollux forces her hand by producing her bound sons as Bryce and Hunt reach the firstlight core—where Rigelus is waiting.
Summary
As a wall of water floods the palace corridor to the ceiling, Hunt hauls Bryce through the churning darkness, unable to use lightning in the water. Tharion appears, controlling the surge with far more force than Ketos ever showed, and forms an air bubble around them. Bryce orders him not to drown their allies, and Tharion admits he lost a satchel of antidotes in the chaos; Bryce insists they cannot wait, and Hunt and Bryce race onward toward the firstlight core below.
In the archives corridor near the sealed-off path to the core, Ruhn faces Pollux at gunpoint and realizes he has been manipulated. Pollux reveals Rigelus anticipated Ruhn would seek the mystics and ordered them to feed a lie; Ruhn’s hope for Lidia’s sons collapses as Pollux implies the boys are held elsewhere. Pollux forces Ruhn to move toward the stairwell where Lidia was left bleeding, but when they reach the spot, Lidia is gone.
Tharion has already found Lidia on the stairs along with the dropped satchel, and he helps her flee while using living water to stanch her thigh wound and mask her blood and scent. Only two antidote vials survived, and Tharion explains Hypaxia’s antidote can temporarily restore stolen magic. Lidia drinks a vial, blacks out briefly, then wakes fully healed and newly blazing with power that even makes Tharion’s water recoil.
Tharion and Lidia quietly descend and watch Pollux hold Ruhn at gunpoint, while Pollux taunts that he can sense Lidia because their souls are entwined. Pollux then has two imperial angels bring in two bound and gagged teenage boys—Lidia’s sons. Overwhelmed by recognition and rage, Lidia steps out and commands Pollux to let them go.
Elsewhere, Bryce and Hunt push through the palace toward the core, Bryce still processing that Polaris has been banished into “nowhere” by the portal their blades opened with starlight and Helfire. Hunt blasts into the archives, and they reach the crystal-floored chamber of seven named pipes and power screens: Sirius and Polaris are dark, but the others are nearly full, with one at full power. Waiting before that full pipe, smiling at them, is Rigelus.
Who Appears
- Bryce QuinlanPushes toward the firstlight core after killing Polaris; orders Tharion not to drown allies.
- Hunt AthalarSwims Bryce through the flood, then breaks into the archives and races toward the core.
- Tharion KetosMasters the flood, saves Bryce and Hunt, recovers two antidote vials, and aids Lidia.
- Lidia CervosWounded then instantly healed by the antidote; unleashes heightened power and confronts Pollux over her sons.
- Ruhn DanaanHeld at gunpoint by Pollux; learns he was misled by Rigelus’s planted lie and fears for Lidia.
- Pollux (the Hammer)Baits Ruhn and Lidia, taunts about their soul bond, and produces Lidia’s bound sons.
- RigelusAppears at the firstlight core chamber, waiting as Bryce and Hunt arrive.
- Lidia’s sonsTwo teenage boys bound and gagged, brought in by angels to force Lidia into the open.