A Court of Mist and Fury
by Sarah J. Maas
Contents
Chapter Sixty-Three
Overview
Jurian reveals that he is only bait in a trap set by the King of Hybern, who uses an old spell to seal Feyre and Rhysand’s magic and prevent the group from escaping with the Cauldron. When Jurian shoots Azriel with a bloodbane-coated ash bolt, the others are forced to surrender and follow Hybern to his throne room. The chapter ends with a major betrayal and power shift as Tamlin and Lucien step from the shadows, showing that Hybern’s plans are tied to a bargain with Feyre’s former allies.
Summary
As Jurian descends into the Cauldron room, Feyre measures the danger while Cassian openly recognizes him. Rhysand appears at Feyre’s side, smoothly taking the Book from her, and he and the others confront Jurian instead of fleeing at once. When Jurian demands to know where Miryam is, Morrigan first repeats the old lie that Miryam is dead, then twists the knife by saying she took Miryam to Drakon and that Miryam forgot Jurian entirely. Jurian’s rage and instability make clear that centuries trapped as Amarantha’s eye have left him warped.
Feyre and Rhys try to escape with the Cauldron, but nothing happens. Jurian reveals that he was only there to delay them while the King of Hybern finished a spell, and Feyre immediately feels her power cut off; even the bond with Rhys slams into an unnatural barrier. Jurian explains that Amarantha stole a book of spells from Hybern to strip powers, and that he remembers every moment of his long imprisonment. Rhys keeps provoking him while silently trying to break the trap, but before the group can act, the King of Hybern himself appears and mocks how easily they were caught.
The situation turns deadly when Jurian fires a hidden ash bolt through Azriel’s chest. Morrigan cries out, but the king makes the terms clear: the bolt is coated in bloodbane, and if they resist, the poison will be driven into Azriel’s heart. Because their magic is locked down and they cannot winnow, the group has no choice but to obey. Cassian and Rhys carry the badly wounded Azriel through the castle while Feyre and Mor follow, with Jurian guarding them from behind and the king taking the Cauldron for himself.
As they are marched upward, Feyre notices Hybern’s courtiers watching with predatory delight and the castle’s stark, cruel emptiness. In the throne room, the King of Hybern mounts a dais and sits on a throne built from old human bones, underscoring the brutality of his rule. He then announces that he has upheld his side of a bargain and expects the same in return. From the shadows emerge Lucien and Tamlin, and Feyre realizes that Hybern’s ambush is tied to a deal involving the two people from her former life.
Who Appears
- Feyre Archeronnarrator and captive infiltrator; loses access to her powers and sees Hybern’s trap close around the group
- Rhysandprotective High Lord who takes the Book, confronts Jurian, and finds his magic sealed
- Jurianresurrected ancient warrior; serves as Hybern’s lure and wounds Azriel after taunting the group
- King of Hybernenemy ruler who springs the trap, blocks escape, seizes the Cauldron, and demands surrender
- Azrielspymaster struck through the chest by a bloodbane-coated ash bolt, forcing the others to comply
- Morriganconfronts Jurian about Miryam, maintains old lies, and is badly shaken by Azriel’s injury
- Cassianwarrior who recognizes Jurian, readies for battle, and helps carry wounded Azriel upstairs
- TamlinFeyre’s former lover, revealed at the end as part of a bargain with Hybern
- LucienTamlin’s emissary, appearing beside Tamlin in Hybern’s throne room during the final reveal