Content Warning: The source material discusses graphic violence and torture, war, and death.

Months after Aelin is taken captive by Maeve, Rowan and The Cadre search for her in vain.

Aelin suffers inside the iron coffin that stifles her magic, spending days either tortured or in isolation in a secluded island prison where “she would likely be forgotten” (2). Fenrys, imprisoned in his white-wolf form, is forced to witness her punishment. Aelin has lost faith that the gods care about her fate; the only thing she holds onto is a childhood story of a young princess who loves her kingdom.

In the two weeks since reuniting with his Bane soldiers, Aedion has seen no evidence of Erawan’s forces from Morath. Many allies of Terrasen have arrived, including Rowan’s extensive Whitethorn family, Queen Ansel of Briarcliff from the Western Wastes, the league of Silent Assassins, and the forces of Crown Prince Galan Ashryver of Wendlyn. The snow has recently begun to fall and Aedion believes Erawan will attack in the “dead of winter” when Terrasen’s armies will be weakest (11). The Lords of Terrasen disagree, believing Erawan will wait until spring.

For the past two months, Lysandra has been impersonating Aelin to prevent panic amongst their allies.