House of Flame and Shadow
by Sarah J. Maas
Contents
Chapter Forty-Seven
Overview
Ithan brings a decapitated Fendyr female to Jesiba’s morgue, where an exhausted Hypaxia prepares a risky resurrection that requires physically reattaching the head before firstlight can heal her. Meanwhile, Hunt, Bryce, and their allies arrive in Morven Donnall’s shadow-haunted castle and immediately clash with his contempt for “disgraced” outsiders and his misogynistic rules. The standoff spikes when Morven unleashes the mind-reading Murder Twins and reveals he has captured Sathia, Flynn’s sister, using her as leverage.
Summary
In Jesiba Roga’s morgue, Ithan confronts the sheet-covered body of a decapitated Fendyr female. Jesiba needles him about the effort it took to keep others from devouring the corpse and about what Ithan did to leave the neck so badly damaged, while Hypaxia quietly prepares to attempt a resurrection despite looking exhausted and hollowed out by her new fealty.
Hypaxia lays out the practical requirements: she must reattach the head first so tendons can regrow, and then she can use an injection of firstlight to heal the remaining damage once the Fendyr wakes. Ithan fights nausea and guilt as Hypaxia readies a sewing kit and begins chanting, while Jesiba pointedly asks whether Ithan is truly sure he wants to bring a Fendyr back.
Elsewhere, Hunt arrives with Bryce and their companions at Morven Donnall’s cliffside castle after the white boat guides them through the mist. The realm is old-fashioned and grim, and Hunt immediately senses danger in Morven’s living shadows and antler-throne as Morven accuses them of bringing traitors and enemies to his home.
Bryce provokes Morven by refusing to be cowed, and Morven dismisses Ruhn as disowned while insisting Bryce is the only royal present. When Morven orders that Fae females speak only when spoken to and refuses to be addressed by Hunt because of his slave mark and Fallen status, Bryce openly highlights how many of them are disgraced or rejected, escalating the confrontation rather than defusing it.
Flynn steps forward and greets Morven with confident familiarity, prompting Morven to summon hidden guards: twin enforcers Ruhn and the others recognize as the mind-probing Murder Twins. Between them, the guards drag in a furious young Fae female, revealed to be Sathia—Flynn’s sister—and Morven coolly announces that she has landed in serious trouble.
Who Appears
- Morven DonnallFae king of the mist realm; shadow-crowned ruler who confronts the arriving group and reveals a captive.
- Hunt AthalarArrives at Morven’s castle with Bryce; bristles at being called a slave and disgraced Fallen.
- Bryce QuinlanChallenges Morven’s authority and misogyny, escalating tensions with sarcasm and defiance.
- IthanWatches Hypaxia begin resurrecting a decapitated Fendyr; struggles with nausea and guilt over the damage.
- HypaxiaExhausted former witch-queen; prepares stitching, chanting, and firstlight injection to revive the decapitated Fendyr.
- Jesiba RogaProvides the morgue and taunts Ithan while facilitating Hypaxia’s resurrection attempt.
- Ruhn DanaanStands with Bryce; is dismissed by Morven as disowned and recognizes the Murder Twins.
- Tristan FlynnSteps forward to confront Morven; shocked when Morven presents Flynn’s sister as a prisoner.
- Declan EmmetRecognizes Sathia and the Murder Twins; reacts with alarm to her capture.
- SathiaFlynn’s sister; dragged in as Morven’s captive, visibly furious and in unspecified trouble.
- The Murder TwinsMorven’s twin enforcers; hidden guards known for mind-prying, escorting Sathia into the throne room.
- BaxianTravels with Hunt’s group; watches Morven warily and reacts to the sudden appearance of hidden guards.
- Tharion KetosDefector traveling with the group; cracks a joke about Morven’s castle despite rising danger.
- LidiaPresent in Morven’s throne room as part of Bryce and Hunt’s uneasy delegation.
- KetosMember of Tharion’s people; present with the group after the mist-boat passage.
- Decapitated Fendyr femaleUnnamed corpse in Jesiba’s morgue; Hypaxia attempts to resurrect her after reattaching her head.