Transcript
Speaker: Welcome to the Britannia Library. we are your librarians, Brittany and Chandler. Every week we will be recapping and discussing our current read, anything from the latest trends to longtime favorites. Depending on our selection, we'll cover it over multiple episodes, so be sure to stick around to hear the full story. We have started our next read, One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig.
Speaker: Happy Thanksgiving, guys. Happy Thanksgiving. We do want to say we are very thankful to everyone that has been listening to all of our discussions so far. Yeah. Talking about the books. We love reading and we love talking about it. And we are so thankful that you guys are willing to listen to our crazy thoughts on it. I know. We have like almost 200, over 200 something listens now. So yeah it's great. We're growing. And we're so happy that y'all are here still.
Speaker: Yes. So we also do have an update. We will be switching our posting date to Thursdays moving forward, obviously, starting with today. Yes.
Speaker: And so we return with part two of One Dark Window. And spoiler alert, we will be discussing what happens in the book. If you wish to read along, we will be covering chapters 15 to 28. You're welcome to read and come back to us to our thoughts or follow along now.
Speaker: Yay. All right. So we get to part two the mist, and that starts with chapter 15. And the card note says, this card talks of the ties of blunder, family, blood, magic, salt, kingdom, stone, and that it holds them together and warns us to not let go for the ties of blunder are strong. Mm-hmm. Hmm.
Speaker: Yeah. It's kind of interesting. So then we get into it. Elspeth sits next to Raven, but they're kind of far apart from each other on their way back to this state. Yeah. So they're leaving Equinox celebrations early, heading back to Castle Yu, just as a little bit of a recap. Yes.
Speaker: And they're kind of reflecting on the emotional goodbye from her aunt and like she didn't get to see Ioni before leaving. So she's kind of upset about that too. But Elm stays behind with Emery, who obviously just coughed off coughed up a lot of blood and is kind of oh he coughed up more when he found out that they were leaving yeah so upset yeah so he stays behind with emery elm stays behind with them yes al alcohol yeah Yeah. So when they arrive at Castle U, John Thistle, their steward, offers to take her to her room, but Raiden says that he'll take her there instead.
Speaker: And kind of as they're walking there, it's little bit quiet for bit, and then kind of tells her that he's forgotten how to talk to people about his magic since he's had to pretend for so long. Aww.
Speaker: Yeah. And, you know, she understands that because she has her own secrets. Right. You know, and once you're that private, it's hard to, like, just talk freely. But she's definitely still angry with him. She tells him that their house is far enough away from the town that they don't have to pretend to court while there. Yeah, but like, you kind of want to, girl. Come on. Like, come on.
Speaker: So, Elspeth admires the room after waiting the next morning, noticing that the rug on the floor has a man in golden armor. Yeah, she says when she went straight in the night before, she just passed out. Like, she was still in her clothes from the night before. Mm-hmm.
Speaker: And so Jesper walks in with Elspeth's trunk of clothes thinking that like she'd already be awake. Yeah. she's But she's not. No. So Jesper confirms that the man in the rug is supposedly the shepherd king. And that the youths have been collecting images of the former king. Like he's kind of like every generation around the castle. Yeah. And she also has a letter from Aunt Opal wishing her well there and warning her of the old magic at Castle U. Hmm. Again, old witch theories. I'm telling you
Speaker: I'm telling you. I know. So as the ladies kind of discuss their worries, Jesper shares that she reminds herself that she's stronger than her doubts. And that's kind of how she's able to face all this. love that. Me too.
Speaker: ah She's about to say more, but she stops because she thinks she sees like a flash of yellow in Elspeth's eyes. But she like, yeah, she shrugs it off. Jesper then informs Elspeth of a plan to have tea with the Pine Ladies because their father is suspected of having an Iron Gate card.
Speaker: And if they're able to get information about its location, they're closer to finishing the deck. Ooh. Because they only need the Iron Gate, the Well, and the Twin Alders. Yep. And we know where there's, well. Yeah, we do. They don't yet. No, they don't.
Speaker: So then chapter 16, this card note kind of talks about providence cards again. And it says, providence cards are a gift. Using them doesn't cause the user to degenerate and the cards themselves can't degenerate.
Speaker: But be warned, magic has a price. All magic has price. Nothing comes free. Yeah. As the nightmare looks like. Yep. So Moret, Jesper, and Elswith wait in the parlor and Jesper kind of offers some wine to get through what's coming up. And I love this. Her mom's like, seriously? And she turns to Elswith and is like, do want some? She's like, I need it. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker: So Lady Pine and her two younger ah um daughters arrive there's some light of a conversation about Equinox. They're like talking about dresses and stuff. Yeah, very surface level. Nightmare hates it. Yeah. He's just like hating on her. Elspeth learns that Ioni has been using the Maiden card pretty consistently. And Elspeth realizes that this was the plan to get the girls talking about Ioni and the Maiden card to then learn about the Ioni Gate card. It kind of, you know, opens the door to that conversation. Exactly. She explains that the maiden card was given to Ioni for the arrangement with the with the cards and their engagement. Like the nightmare card trading and all that.
Speaker: And Greta, one of the sisters, asked if that is how Elspeth ended up in the U house, but she coughs and explains politely that it's not. She's like, like oh, do you have a bargain too or something? You have a dowry? No.
Speaker: no So Elspeth kind of flips the question back on her and asks if her father has a card for her dowry. And she learns that her father has an iron gate and profit card, but he always carries them with him. Interesting. And so they use plan to grab the iron gate card when the pines leave stone to head back to town.
Speaker: Yeah, this is like after the ladies have left, they've regathered and they're just going to make a plan. And they're like, this was going to happen. Exactly. So obviously with Elspeth's help of seeing where the card is will be exactly so she'll be able to tell them like where it Because obviously going to like him and people traveling back with him in his carriage. So he needs to know exactly which one will have it. yeah So Elspeth then learns a little bit about the history of the Twin Alders card. How no one's been able to reassemble the deck.
Speaker: because it's missing and how they've searched for centuries and haven't found it. yeah Everyone's been searching. The Shepard King took him into the mist one day, but he didn't return with it.
Speaker: He didn't die with an heir, so Brutus Rowan became the king as he was captain of the Kingsguard. yeah So the Jews go on to kind of explain that they plan to kill Orth Willow, who is also infected. What?
Speaker: He's the head of the physician. Yeah. Yeah. So whenever they collect the entire deck of cards, they're going to use him. Yeah. And they claim that he was actually infected as a child, but the king spared him because of his ability Which is that he can see if someone is infected by using like this metal apparatus like that looks like a claw on his hand to cut them. Oh my God. like he can see they're in the infection in their blood. I think it's like he can see it in their blood and he just uses the claw to like prove it or something. He uses it to draw blood basically.
Speaker: And so the U is going to present all the cards that they have in front of Elspeth. And the ones that are still missing are obviously to dwell the Wild Gate, the Iron Gate, the China Alders. And Elspeth admits at this point, she's like, I know where a wild card is. And my dad has one. She goes, it's just down the road. Interesting.
Speaker: Interesting. So next chapter, we learn about the mirror card. So it warns us to be wary of the violet, the dread, the glass, and the world of the dead. You'll disappear, but you can lose yourself to fear.
Speaker: The next morning, Raven returns to the castle and Elspeth goes out to the gardens. She finds that they are mix of many different things rather than like the carefully manicured gardens in stone or the even the ones that she grew up with. Yeah, they're like crazy. Yeah, she's like she said it's like the wild garden is about to like take over the castle grounds, which I love the crazy and organizedness of it. Yeah, it's great. namely so She takes reeds from a willow tree to make a crown for herself and then searches for some flowers to add to it. Yeah, she's like looking for blooms and she's like, it's probably too late, so really going to have wait for them.
Speaker: And so she kind of reflects on the Nightmare's presence becoming more and more prominent. And when Elspeth pricks herself on a rose bush, Raven actually finds her there and picks the rose for her before cutting it and putting it into her crown. He like peels off the thorns and everything.
Speaker: so cute! yeah So when she shared like shares that she used to be scared of this place, Castle U, because her aunt warned her that it was haunted.
Speaker: But then he's like, I'll show you around. like I'll offer you a tour. you yeah It's not that bad. I do also want to point out when he gives himself flower she was just like you know is this still pretending it's like a flower you know isn't a game a flower doesn't play games a flower is a flower yeah or something like that and I was like that's that's beautifully simple i love it I love that yeah so they enter the they have to enter the mist for the tour because like the mist is encroaching on the grounds Right. um But Raven tells her that people like them don't need to worry about going into the mist. but Like infected people don't need charms. Yeah. And this doesn't come for them because magic. She was like fumbling with it. She was like making sure she got her charm, you know.
Speaker: So Raven takes Elspeth then to see some ruins. It's the side of the old castle, older than stone. And no one knows what caused the fire that destroyed it.
Speaker: Interesting. And there's only one room left standing. oo No door. Just one dark window. yeah Sorry, I love the one that used to hear titles. I know. in the in the rain out I love it.
Speaker: And so the nightmare tells her that it's all she needed. Like the spirit the wood making realize that he'd been there before. Yeah, she was, like, analyzing the, like, building, and he's like, yep, that was all she needed.
Speaker: So feeling the urge to leave. But like Raven talking about the ghost not showing themselves in him. So it's like she's sitting here and she's like, I want to go. And he's like just kind of not paying attention there. And he's like, yeah, you know, there are really – if there are ghosts, then we show um show them to me.
Speaker: Like, dude, it's like let's go. Totally oblivious. So she asks what it feels like to use the mirror card. And he tells her it's cold, but like, that's what you were saying. Like he doesn't see anything. So, but he says he doesn't stay invisible too long. So it feels like he doesn't see anything because he's kind of weary about it.
Speaker: Which is, you know, smart following the card. Yep. So when asked about the nightmare card, though, he says that he can hear a voice that tells him his fears and failures, but that it's his own voice.
Speaker: That's so creepy. Yeah. They return to the castle to discuss plans to seal the Iron Gate as Waitland Pines' carriage turns from stone. When Raven offers her a weapon to defend herself, they head to the armory where Elfeth sees Jesper, Elle, John Thistle, and like two men. yeah And the two men are introduced as the Ivy Brothers, Wick and Peter.
Speaker: And this is the band of highwaymen for their mission. I'm obsessed. I love it. now The steward... The steward of the house. He's so nice. He's, like, especially compared to Valian. Yeah.
Speaker: He's so, yeah. Ugh. So, the next chapter. This card warns of the mist that the spirit hunts and traps those within. But if you have a charm, you'll be safe.
Speaker: Oh. So, kind of explaining charms and all that. Unless you're infected. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But the card doesn't say that. We know that. Yeah. So, Elspeth goes to the armory with the others. Like you were saying, they arrive there. And is given a dagger.
Speaker: Raven tells her she won't have to use it, but she wouldn't look much like a highwayman without a weapon. Yeah. Which is fair. you So, they give her pants to change into. And she's very uncomfortable with, like, how exposed she feels wearing them. I'm sorry, but John Dissel specifically is like, hey, I'm sorry, but she's not going to work out for this mission if she's dressed like that. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker: So this is like, I love this part because she's looking on herself and she's like, I don't press this. I don't like this. But then she's like, it's up the courage. And then she walks out and she gets some whistles from the Ivy brothers. And like, uh, desperate, like he's like, Hey, knock it off. though you can Like see Raven blushing too. oh Like he looks her up and down and I'm like, Oh, he checking her out. Oh yeah. So next,
Speaker: They take her out to the stable to try to get her onto to a horse. Oh, God. And the mare is, like, really skittish. But Raven tells her that it's just a horse that's seeing Elspeth's anxiety. Okay. And when he gets her on top of the horse, the nightmare kisses at Which, like, really, bud? You're not helping anything. Not at all. And it throws her off before just taking off. Like, the horse just goes shooting out. Yeah.
Speaker: And, like, this one comes back in. She's like, everything good? And she's like, I've been trying to tell you. animals don't like me. He's like, okay, fair. Okay, yeah. We believe you now. Mm-hmm. Oh, God. So, it's decided then that Elspeth rides with Elm since he's the best horseman in their group.
Speaker: and ah And they end up waiting in the woods for a bit. Yeah, like once they get there. Yeah. So, thick in the mist, Elspeth can feel the magic around and a doe and a fawn pass by.
Speaker: She mentions that her aunt ah used to say that the spirit of the wood could take the form of animals, but never an exact replication. Kind of saying like you could see it in their eyes.
Speaker: Like they knew something. There was like a more like more awareness or there was something slightly different about them. And so then Elspeth asked if the spirit will remain if the deck is reunited. And he kind of explains that she is magic, balance, eternal.
Speaker: And that she won't disappear with the mist. Yeah. She's going to stick around. So later that day, Raven gives Elspeth a cloth or a mask. And we actually, it's the same cloth that she used when ah they blindfolded her earlier. oh yeah. In part one. But when Raven puts on his mask, it kind of shocks Elspeth and reminds her of the night that they found her on the road. And Raven takes off the mask and, you know, sincerely kind of apologizes to her.
Speaker: scarring her. Scaring Scaring her. scary He goes on to explain he went back for several nights after the incident trying to find her. Yeah. And how he wouldn't have hurt her had he known who she was and then he actually genuinely apologizes. Which I will say I love because we don't always get this from the annoying male characters. We don't. I'm looking at you, Guardian. Guardian never apologizes. No. i kind of does.
Speaker: Not like this. Not like this. Fair. And so she tells him that she will accept his apology as long as he calls her Elspeth rather than Miss Spindle since they're about to commit treason together. Oh, bonding. Yay.
Speaker: They hear the signal and so they start to get ready now. Oh, my goodness. And then we head end into chapter 19. And this is the iron gate card, kind of warning us to be wary of the moss, fence, gate, and mist. The card will stop your tears, but steal your years.
Speaker: So be wary of its use. Again, magic is a price, obviously. So pine scourge approaches, but they quickly realize there are more people than anticipated. Oh my God.
Speaker: The Iron Gate card is in the first carriage, but Elspeth can also see four black horses in a scythe. The Destriers along with Prince Hoth. No.
Speaker: It's about to get good. No. well There's also a second carriage. You can't tell exactly who's in there yet. Yeah. So Raven uses his nightmare card to tell the others, and they go on with the robbery is planned. Raven then uses the mirror card to disappear, and Elspeth follows him to point out the location of the card.
Speaker: Once she tells him, she's supposed to run back to the woods to hide. Good. And as the carriages are stopped and they attack the desprears, chaos ensues as everyone joins the fight.
Speaker: ah Once Elspeth tells Raven in the Iron Gate is in Pine's pocket, like he's gotten out of the carriage, he's like running off the side. trying to run away. Yeah. He's like surrounded by desprears and he's just like cowering like, all right, dude, really?
Speaker: um But she told, you know, ah Raven where to find it. So she runs away. But straight into her father. oh Who is fighting Elm. Oh my god.
Speaker: This part. Which like. She like comes into him and he's like fighting Elm. And doesn't really register. he like elbows her to the face. It's. crazy I lost my mind. I know. i was like, oh my God, oh my God, oh my God. Her dad's there. He's going to find out. Oh my God. No. Yeah. So she gets away to the trees, but then she sees that her father is about to kill Elm.
Speaker: Like, what is, what, what, huh? What do you do at this point? Yeah. So Elspeth throws a rock at him, kind of allowing Elm to escape and then ask the nightmare to help fight her father. Yeah. Oh my God.
Speaker: So once he's knocked to the ground, she recites the well card, which frightens her father. She can, like, see the fear in his eyes. Yeah. Well, mean, and her voice isn't her own. Yeah. It's mixed with the Nightmare's voice, And she probably has the yellow eyes. Yeah. Yep. Mm-hmm. So suddenly Jesper appears and they run into the mist together. They're like, okay, we got to get out. you Let's go.
Speaker: So they run into another destructor and Jesper fights him off, knocking unconscious. I love Jesper. But then she searches her pockets and she's lost her charm. No. And they're in the woods, in the mist. So she begins to start, like, lose her sight. She's like, I can't see anything. And she runs off deeper into the woods to avoid the distress. She's like talking herself and like going a little bit crazy. She was like, no, no. was supposed like, let's get back to the woods. Like find the others. She's like, yeah no, no, no. The road's not safe. We got to go deeper. yeah And I'm like, no, ma'am. Not safe.
Speaker: you I literally was like, let's fuck up that. If she died at the time, I was literally going to lose my mind. I was going to lose my mind. I can't lose Jesper. I love her. But um she took off and Elisabeth is trying to follow her, but you know kind of loses her in the mist.
Speaker: So she hears a scream. She thinks it's an animal at first. And then the second scream realizes it's Jesper in pain. She comes up and finds that Jesper has twisted her ankle and seems to definitely be like degenerating mentally.
Speaker: She's like not making sense. She's like speaking of riddles. She's like, do you feel the loss for part of the earth? oh my god. She's going crazy. She's going nuts. So Elspeth searches ah for the burgundy part of the nightmare burgundy color of the nightmare card to find Raven to get his charm for Jesper as hers is back at Castle She doesn't have her. She's like, Jesper, does your brother have his? And she's like, yeah, brother, help. Because she's like a briefly lucid. She takes off trying to find him.
Speaker: Again, in the mist, kind turn around. I'm like, you're going to get lost in the woods. So unfortunately, she finds Prince Hoth in some dust years and realizes she's back where they had fled from. no And they're retrieving an unconscious dust year, but the prince kind of senses someone, like the one that they, that Jesper knocked out, they're kind of retrieving him. And the prince kind of senses someone and calls out, but like, she's like, okay, if i stay quiet, I'll be fine.
Speaker: But he catches her And he grabs her wrist and demands to know who she is and then like twists her wrist, breaking it. And at this point, she's like, I need a help, Nightmare. You you got this. She swipes at him without thinking and hears clothes tearing. And as she looks down at her hand, it's covered in blood and looks as if it belongs to someone else. She's like, my fingers are curled in like claws. o Oh, yeah.
Speaker: So an injured hoth still wants to know identity, but she runs away. and She's blind of about pain and this, and Elkis is just running through the woods and hears footsteps.
Speaker: Trying to avoid them, looking at, you know, off for the dust coming after. She stumbles and then notices that the colors of the cards the person has. It's Raven. Yeah. So she runs to him and he disappears, but she still finds him. You know, cause she didn't see the colors. She like runs straight into him. Yeah, because he's invisible. Yeah. And he and hides them like behind a tree in case Prince Hoth followed them. ah When he doesn't appear, we learn that the pine carriage rode off that after they all retreated with the spindle carriage shortly behind. oh
Speaker: no. So Elspeth warns Raven about Jesper needing a charm and they race off to her. And they also find John Pistole along the way. And they give Jasper her charm and sanity kind of starts to seem to like return to her. Yeah. And the rest of the group converges on that and they're all given a hard time about being recognized. Yeah. Like confident no one was. Everyone's giving each other a hard time about making sure no one was recognized. Yeah.
Speaker: But suddenly they're all anxious to see the card and, you know, Raven shows it to them, letting them pass it around. He's like, we got it. We good. We good. Mm-hmm. I was curious when they passed it around if Elspeth was going to grab it.
Speaker: Of course she's not. Yeah. Again, i want to know what happens when she touches another guard. Yeah. So when Elspeth sits for some rest, Elm questions if her father recognized her and explains to everyone else that she fought her dad to save Elm.
Speaker: Yeah. To save him. And this surprises the group, but she's confident that he didn't recognize her. He wouldn't try to kill his own daughter. i don't know yeah if If he had recognized he wouldn't have tried to kill her. Agreed. um as Raven goes to wrap her wrist, she tells Elm that Hoth was the one that had hurt her. He wanted to know how she escaped, but she just said, perhaps it was he who got away from me.
Speaker: That's one of my favorite quotes. So creepy. It was creepy. It's true, though. Yes. So, next chapter.
Speaker: This card, no, kind of warns us that magic is the oldest paradox and warns that you'll become weaker with greater power. Be wary, be clever, be good.
Speaker: I just, I'm sorry I have to point out, every time, every time we read, be wary, be clever, be good, my brain thinks, Of the help. I know. and the do I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to. It's that you was sad. You was smart.
Speaker: You was important. I'm sorry. it's It's the three. It's the repetitive. I'm still getting the other one tattooed. I scored it. Yeah.
Speaker: yeah and i heard it yeah So Raven sends the rest of the party ahead and has Elspeth ride back with him. And Elspeth and Raven kind of have a quick conversation, and Raven explains that she frightened him earlier. Aww.
Speaker: That he feels that he can understand her completely, but then her eyes flash yellow, and it's not really her anymore. Hmm. Hmm. So you're catching on, homie. Yeah.
Speaker: So before they take off, Raven says, the truth is, there's darkness in all of us. And nothing comes for free. And when they get to the castle, it's near dawn. And he helps her down.
Speaker: And his hands kind of linger at her waist. He's like, not taking him off. And I'm like, ooh. e you So he asks if she would like to continue to pretend courting.
Speaker: Also saying, courting you has proven easiest. Okay, well... Okay, but you like her. You like her. You're trying to fight, but you like her. She tries to be coy, saying, you know, oh, how flattering. In which she asks what her answer is.
Speaker: And she answers the backing questions. And he tells her to call him Raven, to make it believable. She keeps calling him, like, Captain. Yeah. Her only answer is using his name as she goes to bed.
Speaker: So that's, like, her answer, like, yeah, sure. Okay. Yeah. So Elspeth has a nightmare back in the chamber, seeing the knight in golden armor on a dark stone in the middle of the room.
Speaker: When he sees her, he says her name and tells her to let him out. Oh, no. ah Okay. Oh, no. and Fun. Next morning, I guess, she sleeps in, but then gets herself cleaned up in the morning, you know, kind of as much as she can one-handed, right?
Speaker: Broken wrist. And she's just looking rough with her bruises from the previous day. And she, like, tries to rub her eyes, but then sees the nightmare in her reflection in the mirror.
Speaker: But then it, like, shifts back to reality quickly. o It's always when you rub your eyes. Right. Never rub your eyes before looking in the mirror. Right. You're going to some things going on. So, Elspeth leaves her room and Raven finds her on the stairs and stops her to check her arm.
Speaker: And she admits she's sore, but he says it looks worse than it is. And then we find out Ioni's there to visit. Oh, yay. The surprise for them all. Yay.
Speaker: um And Elspeth barely recognizes her ah because of the maiden card. Yeah. So they go to sit in the parlor with Moret, and Raven is there too, and he's just sulking. He does not want to be there for ladies to chat either. Obviously not.
Speaker: So when their eyes meet, though, they kind of get lost, like Raven and Elzabeth. Yeah, they're like, the room disappears. I can only have eyes. who I know, so cute. But then everyone's looking at Elzabeth, and she's like, what? And Ione had asked her a question, and she didn't hear it. So she asked again, what happened to her arm?
Speaker: And she's like, oh, I fell off a horse. which Which is mean true. She did fall off a horse. She fell off a horse. She's going to break her wrist then. Yeah.
Speaker: And Ione kind of like makes a joke about it. And her talking tone kind of shows that the use of her maiden card is starting to make her cold. And Elspeth's kind of surprised by it. like Yeah. She's like, I can't believe this is the same.
Speaker: Yeah, this isn't the Ione I yeah grew up with. So Elm comes in and starts making remarks, but Maret wants come up with her company. Like, he doesn't see Ioni at first. Yeah.
Speaker: And mean he straight up asks Ioni what she's doing there. And she says she's there to see Raven since the Destriers come to train today. And Elspeth kind of questions and says she thought that she was there for her. Not Raven, sorry. She's going to see Prince Hoth because the Destriers were summoned back for training there. Right. yeah She said your brother to Elm. Sorry. No, you're good.
Speaker: There were so many people in the room. There were. yeah so And then she says, you know, two birds, one stone. well dear I was here to see them, but also you. I'm like, you yeah, like, okay, thanks that your cousin who's been raised with you And his family is the afterthought. Like, oh, let me go see my betrothed. Oh, yeah, my cousin's there. I guess I'll see her. I'm like, okay, thanks. I hate this.
Speaker: But she also says that she wants to see Castle Yu since she hadn't seen it since she was a girl and believed it was haunted. and at this point, Elm smiles and he says he wouldn't discount the rumors. So chapter 21, on that card, we learn that the man's character is shaped by how he wields magic. Is he loyal or is he corrupt? Interesting. We learned that by how he was.
Speaker: Interesting. So Elspeth is walking with Ioni while they follow Raven and Elm out to where the Destriers and Hoth are waiting for Raven's instructions. And Ioni's like definitely acting differently as obviously we learned. Like she's like warning Elspeth that she doesn't know the way of powerful men. Shut up. Like really ma'am? Yeah.
Speaker: Out. I'm sorry. Elspeth a more realistic and cautious outlook on life in general because of her situation. Whereas you or Miss La-di-da, heads in the cloud, everyone loves me, so the world is all sunshine and rainbows. I literally... I'm over it. I'm over you. I'm you. I'm like puncher in the face. really do. God.
Speaker: So Ionee that mentions that Hawk was very upset that the highwayman had gotten away and that he had been injured in the attack. Good. And Elspeth kind of like, looks over at him and notices that her marks were fading on him. Yeah. Definitely still there. Yeah.
Speaker: So they approach the men, and Raven explains that he'd ordered the Destriers to return to Castle Yu for training. But some of them, including the prince, defied orders by staying behind. Like for the little equinox yeah festivities.
Speaker: And when they were on their way back, they were attacked. When Hoth approaches them, Ione seems to look at him with hatred before hiding her feelings and kind of introducing Elspeth. But Hoth like dismisses her super quick. And he teases Raven about being hard to find because of her. yeah Like, ew.
Speaker: Gross. Get out of here. Raven tells his men that he's disappointed that they and the prince were beaten by highwaymen. I love that he points out the dusters and a prince.
Speaker: why in the friend really calling him out there like you messed up bro yep but hot defends himself in the death series by explaining they were ambushed and he was injured but that he broke his attacker's wrist he also like does not else this like i noticed that he doesn't say anything about it being a woman because he heard her voice he heard her scream he heard her scream so he knows that it was a a girl, and yeah he's not mentioning that. Of course not. way too He's way too proud boy. Oh yeah, he is.
Speaker: So Elm and Raven go still at this point, but Ione kind of turns and glances at Elspeth's wrist. Yeah, she's just like very slowly. like I don't know if that's how it is. That's how I pictured it. We were just very slowly turning and then just like ah like very briefly glancing her head down and being like, yeah, I twitch. Like, what's going on?
Speaker: So Elm then kind of teases the prince about the attack and Ioni seems to enjoy it. The teasing. Because Ioni and Elm have a crush on each other. I'm telling you. I'm telling you something. yeah It's a theory that it will be proven in the second book. It's going to happen. um But Raven ends up challenging Hoth to spar with him. When the high prince refuses, Elm kind of then goads him into it. And he's like, you're going to lose. Oh.
Speaker: Well, he's like, what, you scared to fight the captain? Yeah. Exactly, he is. Elm then calls out the prince, forcing Hoth to know spar with Raven. So, while Raven warns about highwaymen fighting dirty and slapping the prince. I love it.
Speaker: Hoth tells the dustriers to use their black horse cards by enhancing their speed and accuracy. Right. Yeah. So, kind of, they continue to spar and give advice as they go, you know, They're kind of like giving training advice as they're fighting. Yeah, exactly. Because Raven's constantly talking about how the Highlander are going to follow certain fights. They're going to play dirty. They're going to deal with other things.
Speaker: And the prince is like, it's not against I mean, Raven's also saying, you know, you defend against it too. But, right. Raven ends up talking the prince down and breaks his hand. He like stomps on his hand. Yeah.
Speaker: I only laughed. I'm obsessed with this. Okay, but like, that's not the I only knew. But I'm obsessed. I love it. Yeah, fair. no And Raven is then pulled off off before they kind of end the way. Yeah, he's like beating them them. Yeah.
Speaker: So they both walk off the opposite directions and every everyone else is versus. it's like just Elm and Elspeth sitting there and Elm turns to her and says that Raven broke Hoth's hands for her.
Speaker: Hoth broke your wrist and mangled his hands. Balance. One my favorite quotes. One of my favorite quotes. Because it's like, yeah, balance. Everything has balance in this book and I love that.
Speaker: So after a short dinner with Vanir and Marek, it's just her and them. And they're all ready to go their separate ways. They quickly eat dinner and they're like, okay, let's go. Elspeth's making her way back to her room when she overhears Elm warning Raven about Elspeth being dangerous and hiding something from them.
Speaker: And she's like kind of eavesdropping. Yeah. But she's trying not to. But Raven defends her. And then refuses to use the nightmare card on her without her consent. Elm's like, you do it on all of us. because You guys have all consented. She gets on.
Speaker: Exactly. And he ends the conversation. And she's barely in her room before he knocks door. She's like, here's something. She's like, oh, yeah. She's like, fumbling with the latch. She's like, making all kinds of noise. Yeah.
Speaker: And she gets back into her room. She's not sly at all. So he explains that the training incident wasn't fully about her. That he and the prince, you know, have a difficult relationship.
Speaker: As is, like, preferably. Yeah. um Prince Hoth was the one to tell the king about Raven and Emery's infections. Oh, my God. Because he was mad that the king made Raven captain of the dust rears.
Speaker: How spoiled Brad is that? You're you're the prince. You're the prince. Get over yourself. You're the eldest prince. So you are literally the heir. You are next in line. And you're going to throw little temperate to him because daddy didn't make you the captain of his fighters.
Speaker: That is Prince Hoffman to come to know. I know. So childish. Ridiculous. So he invites her out. um Raven's like, I wanted to show you something the other day, but we didn't have time. And, you know, if you're not too tired, now I'd like to show you. But he won't tell her what it is.
Speaker: I trust it? I trust him. I trust Raven. I trust Raven. So next chapter, on this garden note, we learn that magic that comes from the infection is immeasurable and holds no loyalty. Interesting. Some are gifted great powers, while others are given darkness and degeneration.
Speaker: o So Raven actually takes Elspeth back to the castle ruins and into the last remaining room through the dark window. and once they're inside, she recognizes this room from her dream.
Speaker: Like the stone in the center and everything. Yeah, stone in the center, like the ceiling, window, everything. Yeah. So Raven shows her the stone in the middle, and then he cuts his palm and puts it there to reveal their family's hiding spot for their cards. It like opens up.
Speaker: Yeah. And she suddenly sees colors. Yeah. Which I find interesting. She couldn't see the colors through the stone. Magic. Yeah, but I mean, the mist is supposed to be magic, and she can see the cards through the mist.
Speaker: This is blood magic. This is stronger magic. No. um But he tells her that only people with infected blood can open it. So he shows her the card.
Speaker: And he also explains that he got the fever when he was 13. So he got it like later than kids normally do. He didn't know if he got any powers. And he left for training to become a destrier at 14.
Speaker: So they gave him a black horse card. But he couldn't get it to work. So that's kind of what made him realize that cards don't work on him. And Hoth quickly realized what was happening and told his father. Rude.
Speaker: road Yeah. And so because the cards wouldn't be used against him, that's why the king made Raven captain. Mm-hmm. So each year he loses the ability to use another card. That's his degeneration. Yeah.
Speaker: And so, and there's like a quick little thing. She's like, how did you even find out about this table? And he was like, I was stumbled around and I like, I had my hand on the window when I came through the first time. And touched the table. Yeah. He like fell as he stumbled in and happened to touch it.
Speaker: Which is crazy. Is it a table or is it just like a stone? I think it's like a stone kind of altar table thing. Cause like just a raised stone. Okay. So. At this point, she offers to close the table with her blood, and he kind of refuses at first. And when she starts to leave, he takes her hand and makes a small cut on the heel of her palm, and he tells her it doesn't take much blood.
Speaker: you know He's like, nothing to scar you. Yeah. and he shows her how to close it. So it works for her. There is a little bit of tension between them and the keys.
Speaker: And then when Elspeth opens her eyes, she sees a man in bright armor and yellow eyes in the room. like pass right her yeah behind Behind her. Raven. She runs out of the room and back to her room in the castle. She's like freaking out.
Speaker: She's like, I'm out. And she looks all around her room and sees the depictions of the shepherd king. And she realizes that the nightmare is what he became.
Speaker: was right. Yeah, you were. just want to say it right. You were right. You were right. Okay, next chapter. The next card warns us that the user, to be careful how often they use the card, too much of anything can be bad, despite who you are. Yeah, it's like maiden, king, yeah whoever, shepherd.
Speaker: Yeah, not good. So after being woken in the garden, I feel like, what? Yeah, what? Okay. Elspeth is taken inside and he gives her some tea to warm up while he kind of rebandages her wrist. He's like, you sleepwalk often? He's like, never before.
Speaker: Never? And he tells her that the Willow family have been like physicians for centuries and that those infected weren't always hunted but cared for. Interesting. Because the physicians weren't always bad.
Speaker: Interesting. So Felix further explains how the shepherd king had great power granted to him by the spirit of the wood, as we know, but that he used his power to make a province cards and shared them with the kingdom.
Speaker: The spirit then became angry that no one came to her anymore and created the mist to bring people back to her. When the shepherd king went to rid the mist, he was only able to return and write the old book of Alders.
Speaker: He didn't lift the mist. Elspeth shares that her aunt kind of told her that the spirit picked him and he agrees that it was likely, but they still got the book that warned them of all of the magic.
Speaker: However, the first Rowan King, Brutus, used the book to turn people against those who were infected. and so Felix suspects that Brutus, who was captain of the guard, murdered the Shepard King since no one knows how he died. Interesting. And now it seems that all Rowan Kings are eager to destroy those with magic.
Speaker: that could potentially overpower them. So they take things by force, the cowardly way, and then continue to be cowards by removing any potential threat to them because they're just, rather than be good leaders and kings, they're just insecure little babies. Got it. Okay. Hello, Heartless Hunter and Boat. Let's just get rid of magic because magic is bad. Right.
Speaker: Balance is important, guys. clearly so he tries to comfort her but she thinks that the past is more important than they believe she's like i i think that story kind of matters he's like yeah no it's in the past like better her use it yeah so she tries to leave then she kind of like stops and asks about degeneration because she really doesn't understand what hers could be because she knows what emory's is and she knows what raven's is but She has no idea what hers is. Yeah.
Speaker: And, you know, he doesn't really have an answer for her. So she leaves. He's like, you know, it's different for everybody. I'm sorry. And ah as she's leaving, she know she ends up in a mental argument with the nightmare, who she calls the shepherd king.
Speaker: And he reminds her of their story. And she questions why is she she can see into his mouth now after all this time. And he points out her own suspicion. And she realizes that he's growing stronger. No. Her degeneration is that she's fading and the nightmare is growing stronger inside her. No. So she walks back in her room but stops when she hears the dust fears below.
Speaker: so like out like in like dining or whatever. Yeah. or Something like that to make a noise. And Alma appears and teases her. Of course. Before telling her to dress in her family colors for market day.
Speaker: Yeah, he's like, if your family ever gave them to you. i was like, really, dude? You gotta rub it in? peaces He's an asshole, but I still like him.
Speaker: I only take so much ass glory. know. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. i know. On chapter 24, this card urges us to tell children the truth, not to lie to them, that kids are strongest when their eyes are clear, that they can only make their own choices and can truly be free.
Speaker: It's 100% comics. Yeah. I'm sorry. Lying and keeping them sheltered like that doesn't actually help prepare them for anything. Not at all. In the book or real life. yeah Elspeth then dresses in a red dress that she inherited when her mother died. Aww. The red is the color middle house, but it was her mother's dress, so very sweet.
Speaker: She braids her hair and puts her rose that Raven gave her in it. Aww. Again. They are so cute, and they're not even trying. Yeah. Like, You... Like, just admit it, guys.
Speaker: So she goes downstairs and Jesper's the one to greet her and lead her to the others for market day. Elspeth's wearing a green and gold mask borrowed from the youths for the event. so It was giving Christmas vibes. Yeah, very much. That's what I thinking. Raven is there and he looks happy that she has his rose in her hair.
Speaker: But Hoth is also there. Yeah. right And he apologizes for his behavior the previous day. And at this point, Raven tries to hurry him along. But when Hoth grabs Elspeth's arm, she winces.
Speaker: And Ione quickly tells him that Elizabeth fell off a horse when they were riding the previous day. Yeah, like saying that they were riding together. oh Excuse me? Again, she's there for our girl, but like, I don't like you. I don't trust this. Yeah.
Speaker: Hoth questions what she sees in Raven, and she replies that he is tall. that Before she walks away from the High Prince. And she kind of walks over to Elm at this point.
Speaker: I want to point out, it's funny that she says that he's tall because Raven's taller than the prince. Yes. That's why. she's trying to like But, like, she wasn't thinking about it. Like, she wasn't, like, she literally wasn't trying to be any kind of snark with him. I just think that's hilarious. It's great. wo So she asks Elm at this point if his brother expects anything, but he isn't worried about it.
Speaker: He's like, he's too dumb. Yeah. And as they pass Spindlehouse, Elspeth thinks about going in to try to steal the well card, but Elm warns her it's not the right time.
Speaker: And so they keep moving. Yeah. So lost in her thoughts, Elspeth is startled when Wavin touches her shoulder. They start walking together and Elspeth tells him that she wants to help. He says that she is, but she doesn't mean like just pretending this way. she She wants to be involved more.
Speaker: So when Elspeth tries to bring up the previous night, he explains that he was opposed to it because he hasn't stopped thinking about her since they met that night on the highway. Like he was opposed to courting her, pretending to court because he's been thinking about her forever. He likes her.
Speaker: And how he doesn't want to pretend with her and that that alone is dangerous. His whole life is pretending. So, I mean, yeah, he says he isn't safe. Yeah. You know, he can't be trusted. He's a liar.
Speaker: But she sees herself in him. And accepts him. So he knows that will end up dead. But she tells him. it is not they who bring the reckoning. ran It is you.
Speaker: it is us. I love that quote too. I love this. At this point. They embrace. Embrose. the Embrace in an emotional hug.
Speaker: And it's like. Oh, it's one of those hugs that like your time stops around you. It's just like the rightness. It's one of those just like, it's the perfect hug that you need at the moment. Yeah. And they both fully accept each other and both fully like, oh, it's great.
Speaker: But they're soon interrupted by the Spindle family. Of course. I love this. No, I don't. Elspeth's half-sisters approach and their father and Miriam join them shortly after. Eric kind of pauses.
Speaker: And tells her she looks like her mother. ah And Nerium's not happy about it. Yeah, she's like, well, deal with it, Nerium. Eric was kind of, like, in a trance. He was, like, shocked. Yeah.
Speaker: Oh, God. So the twins, Simeon and Nya, take Elspeth for a turn around the square. Like, basically to just kind of catch up. Yeah. They start interrogating her about her and Raven and how he could find out, like, he got the fever and get them in trouble. Like, they're more concerned about them getting in trouble. Yeah.
Speaker: And i'm like, rude. Yeah. Obviously, this annoys Elspeth. I mean, same. um So she goes off and she catches up with Elm and kind of begs him to use the scythe card to make her sisters go away. I love this. Yes.
Speaker: So he does, and they wander off to find more wine. Elm asks her if she sees any chalice cards around, and when she says there aren't, he takes a drink of his wine. Elm warns her that Raven will find out what she really is eventually, saying how she could have no combat training but be able to catch knives and main people. Like, girl.
Speaker: Hmm, something's, the math ain't math in there, hun. Yeah. And how he can see the yellow in her eyes as well. That's like three people, girl.
Speaker: Jasper, Raven. Now, Emery, technically. Emery did too, yeah. He was just um drunk at the time. didn't we can't really trust Emery's word.
Speaker: But suddenly, three Death Readers push through the crowd. They have apprehended a child with the infection and his parents that harbored him. Hoth intends to make an example of them.
Speaker: In front of everyone at Market Day, which is supposed to be like fun, relaxing day. Really? Really? Gotta ruin the good time. Always. Because that's who Prince Hoth is. He's just gotta ruin it everything.
Speaker: Alright, next chapter. This card note talks about willow trees. that no switch will be made from it and that it waits as a break from the dark she demands this of the physicians to be as soft as the trees their healing is absolute And I just want to say the Willow family has been for centuries. that Willows. talk about Sorry, just love that Me too.
Speaker: So, Father is whipped in front of the crowd before Prince Hoth turns to the crowd to speak about how they hid their infected son, putting all of them at risk. No. He was protecting his child.
Speaker: I hate this. I hate it so much. I really did too. So Elm and Elspeth are watching along with the crowd who literally all seem troubled by this. Like there's literally no one in support of this. No one's cheering. No one's doing anything. Everyone is just like dead still. Like I don't know what to do. Which I want to say i like because in all the other, ah you know, Crimson Moth, you think about it. They were cheering. There were people that would cheer.
Speaker: So it's like, this is a nice, this is a very nice alternative that it's like, there very clearly there's some sane people out there that are bothered by just my this type of violence. Yes.
Speaker: o um And Hoth uses the, he then uses the scythe card on the parents and tells them to hand over their arms. He destroys them and then sentences them to death.
Speaker: The whole crowd is kind of like jostled to the gate and into this field with the mist like not far away. And suddenly a carriage pulls up and the infected child is brought out by physicians. Oh my God. Elm basically explains to Elspeth that the kid will be forced to watch his parents walk into the mist before being sent back to the castle.
Speaker: This is just cool. Yeah. Oh, it gets worse. Yeah. So where' hell when he goes back to the castle... The boy will essentially be executed by the king if he doesn't think that his powers are useful. I mean, he kept Raven around because his powers were useful. He kept Oryth.
Speaker: Oryth. Oryth. Yeah. Around because he can sense he's infected, so... Yeah. So the head of the king's physician, Orith, steps out of the carriage as well, and he exposes that mechanical claw that he uses to keep the child in place. Yeah. He's like got him by the neck.
Speaker: And he speaks about the danger of infected magic when Hoth joins in, stating that Providence card are the only pure magic. All right, I'm sorry. We started talking about purity.
Speaker: none No, no, no. He then commands them, the parents, in the mist and they walk slowly towards it and they're like screaming and yelling back at their son and you can tell they don't like like fighting it but their bodies are just doing as it's been commanded so and it's like the way that their bodies are like they say like not moving naturally they're like yeah they're like mean it tells them like they're struggling you're trying to fight the command and their bodies have to go and they're struggling like you said they're not walking naturally like they don't like it
Speaker: So Elsketh urges Elm to use his scythe card to stop them entering the mist and takes his cloak and mask. The Rowan princes then face off against each other with their cards. Yeah, like, basically, Elm is like, I'm gonna stop this. Yeah, and Hoth's like, you know, release your cards, hold. And he's like, no, dude, this is messed up. Like, really? Really? You gotta check yourself before you wreck yourself. You gotta make a scene. It's Mark's day, bro. Come on.
Speaker: So Raven and Jester then show up, which distracts the parents, or which distracts Elmina, and it, like, releases the parents. And so they head back towards the mist. And Raven commands the Jester years, but some of them stay back and, like, are flanking off. They're kind of split. Yeah.
Speaker: I mean, it's only a few. seems like more definitely Raven's side. Yeah. Still. Yeah. ah The division is there. um The crowd definitely surges because everyone's like, oh, God, there's going to be huge fight. We don't want to be in the middle of this. Yeah. And so in that chaos, Elphys tries to get to the child, but she's stopped by Aurith. Yeah.
Speaker: And you know Elspeth. She asks the Nightmare for help. Really? Yep. You know she's going to ask him. I know, but you think, like, maybe at some point she would think to learn training for herself.
Speaker: That's a very fair. Especially after The whole highway incident. I know it's only been a couple days. Like a day or two. She also has a broken wrist, girl. i i I mean, yes, obviously she can't train like that. But like the fact that the thought never enters her mind. Like, hey, maybe I should learn some self-defense. Maybe, you know, we live in a dangerous world here.
Speaker: No, I agree. But with the nightmare's help, she is able to get away and take the boy into the woods. But Lyndon is following them. One of the dusters, yes.
Speaker: And her vision momentarily shifts to a dark room with other children behind her in flames approaching, like, as she's running. Ma'am, now's not the time for your vision to be on. Right? I'm like, Nightmare, can you please get out of here? We're trying to do something. Yeah.
Speaker: But then she notices a yew tree with a building beneath it. Still in the flashback. Yep. With one dark window. And that's when she snapped out of her trance by the boy who can kind of hear his parents. Yeah. And she gives her her charm to the boy and tells him that the infected don't need charms. So he's good. He just needs to get to his parents. Yeah. And like the one charm for both his parents is she'd give enough sanity to get them out give them the safety. Exactly.
Speaker: Suddenly, Lyndon appears and like almost kills her. But again, uses the nightmare's help to stop him. She ends up splashing Lyndon's throat, but reigns in her control and runs away. I thought she killed him.
Speaker: I mean, at this point, we think she did. Yeah. So the nightmare is silent in her head and then she crashes into another gestorier, starts fighting to get away from him, and then she realizes it's Raven who calms her down.
Speaker: She tells him she doesn't know what happened and he notices her yellow eyes. When he reaches for her hands, they're curled like claws and covered in blood. o You know, kind of like Emery's comment that he made is the first time. Yeah.
Speaker: I see long fingers covered in blood. Long pale fingers. oh Yeah. Creepy. I know. Okay, next chapter. so on the next card, we learn that the King's Guard uses the Black Horse as their emblem, duty, and creed. They use these cards to uphold Blunder's laws, the shadows, eyes, and footsteps around you. The King's Guard wears no seal.
Speaker: Interesting. Feels a little kind of militia, if you ask me. Yeah, honestly. so And it's making me think of What is the term from Avatar?
Speaker: The Dylee. Yeah. Yeah. It's giving that. It's giving the Dylee for sure. Yeah. So and Raven cleans off Elspeth's bloody hands like on his black shirt so that it's like not visible. And he asks about her yellow eyes. But she says she can't tell him because he won't want anything to do with her.
Speaker: I think it's interesting that he like respects that. Yeah. He's like, He's like, all right. Which, we love it. We love it. We love a man who respects our boundaries. yeah So he uses the nightmare card to tell Jesper to send Orith to help Lyndon.
Speaker: he tells her to take off the mask and He tells Elspeth to take off the mask and cloak, and then they find Elm. So she gives him back everything, and they join rest the Destriers, obviously trying to make it look like they weren't anywhere.
Speaker: right Raven then scolds Hoth for attempting a public execution in the middle of market day. And there's this quick super tense moment where Raven challenges Hoth to take command if he wants it, but Hoth definitely backs down.
Speaker: Well, yeah, because he's a little baby. Yeah, he's little baby. So... At this point, Hoth sends the Death Shears, I guess Raven too, technically. rave i mean, Raven's commanding the Death Shears. Raven, yeah.
Speaker: To look for the boy and tells them to alert him at Castle U if he's found. And then he's like, what if we don't find him? Well, then the mist takes him. Yeah. Like, so Elzabeth questions Elma about them saving children before he tells her that's the entire point of collecting the debt.
Speaker: Yes. Like, we're saving kids. We're saving infected kids. It's not just Emery. It's not just you. It's... Yeah. we've We've been saving kids. Like we have a place for them. Yeah. But like, that's the whole point. Like we're not doing this selfishly just for our one person who care about all of them, which I'm like, I love that. I love it too.
Speaker: It makes it so much deeper than just saving Emery. Than it just a personal reason. Yeah. So Raven then gets information silently from his nightmare card and they hustle into a carriage.
Speaker: Raven, Elspeth, and Elm head back home and Fenir runs out to tell them that Emery has run away from stone. I lost my mind. was like, oh my God, he's gone. He's missing. Boom. Boom.
Speaker: No. and there's just But at that point at that point when I was reading it, I was like, oh my god, no. Yeah, there's no rest in this book. No. So, and next chapter. The next card note kind of says, the stealing of Providence cards is a horrible crime and no one is safe from an inquest with the chalice. Those found guilty pay with their lives.
Speaker: Dun dun. So they rush inside and are directed to the library where they find Emery asleep on a bench. So they found him. Yeah. Mariette is kind of facing nearby. She's obviously worried. And Elm uses his card to kind of help warm Emery because he like whispers, like, let the warmth. like give And so he does. And they learn that he's been asleep for an hour after walking there from stone.
Speaker: In the cold. Yeah. He finally wakes up and is scolded for the danger of his leaving. But he had just wanted to go home. But no one would take him.
Speaker: Well, maybe he's kind of supposed to stay there, so that's why no one would take him. Right, but like he just wanted to be in his home. mom And then he suddenly notices Elspeth, but doesn't recognize her.
Speaker: Weird? yeah He's like, who's this? Yeah. So she gets a little closer and introduces herself fully. causing Emery to rant about spindle trees. He then remembers seeing one in a courtyard with a man in red and a little girl who carried a mare with her always. I just love that description of the twins.
Speaker: Yeah. um And he admires Elspeth's eyes, saying that they're infinite. before Moret mentions her familiarity with the Old Book of Alders. This prompts Emery to mention that the ewes are descended from the Shepherd King. Yeah. Which everyone's like, oh God, here we go again. Here we go. Because everyone's like, all right. They like buckle in for it.
Speaker: But he explains to Elspeth that, you know, based on Rowan records, because there's no surviving records from the Shepherd King. Right. So based on the Rowan King records, the Shepherd King had to have lived somewhere other than Stone.
Speaker: And that the only other like grand castle anywhere is the one on their lands. The ruins. Yeah. Dun-dun. But he also points out that the shepherd king would have taken the name of a tree, just like everybody else, and yews are planted all around the castle ruins. Elgin tries to question the Nightmare's true identity, but he doesn't answer. Yeah. And when Emery and Elm start to kind of argue about history, I'm sorry, i I love it because Elm's like, and this is the part where he says, my descendants don't ruin everything. Exactly.
Speaker: It's so funny. So, Vanir puts a stop to it, and Thistle interrupts with dinner. They decide that Emery will rest there for the night and be taken back to Stone tomorrow.
Speaker: Everyone kind of watches him eat until Raven yells at Elm, who calls out Raven for market day. Yeah, everyone's, like, watching Emery eat like, make sure he's eating. Like, they're not eating themselves. And then Raven's just, like, what?
Speaker: Because he feels Elm's eyes on him. Yeah. And he's, like, when he's, like, accusing her of that, he's, like, you basically were spending time with her, and that basically caused Worth to basically almost find out yeah who she is. Like, that could have risked everything. Yeah. Mm-hmm.
Speaker: Yeah. So then Elspeth does point out that it was her idea to break in Elm does give her credit. He's like, you know, it was a good idea but you know, i'm not going to tell you that. Right.
Speaker: But then he warns Raven against her as he believes that she has more than just the power to see Providence cards. But Raven says that he trusts her, which I love, you know, he still trusts her regardless. Even knowing that they're secrets. She literally just told him, know, he asked how be all lies, whatever. And she's like, I'm not, I can't tell you. Right.
Speaker: You know? So he then reveals that he wanted everyone at market day so that they'd have an alibi in case the Ivy brothers were successful in getting the roll card. ah So he had a whole plan anyway. Are you kidding me? Yep.
Speaker: They weren't, though. They weren't successful. And Elspeth's upset. She was like, yeah, because I wasn't there to tell y'all where it was. I could have helped. But Elm is upset that he and Elspeth were the only ones that didn't know of this plan.
Speaker: yeah He's like me and and and the you know crazy one over here. She's like, hey. hey hey um But Raven's like, you know, we we couldn't risk risk an inquest in case anything went wrong since the chalice card is hard to cheat. Right.
Speaker: And so then Vesper returns at night, but didn't find the boy. Yeah, she stayed out searching, but she wasn't able to find him. Right. So she goes to bed, asks Emery, who has Moret today to watch over him.
Speaker: Everyone else kind of heads to the parlor to drink with Thistle, checking in for refills occasionally. There's like silence in there drinking. Yeah. silence And when Elspeth finally glances at Raven and sees his eyes on her, the others kind of trickle out, leaving the two alone. Yeah, Elm's like, all right, I've had enough. I've had enough of this. I'm done. Yeah, and I think alex Alexander, too, and he's like, okay.
Speaker: And so Elspeth asks if he really does trust her and that she wants them to be honest with each other. She finally admits to Raven that she's degenerating, but can't really explain it to him.
Speaker: You want to tell him because otherwise you wouldn't have mentioned the degenerating because, again, you can't mention the degenerating without fully telling about the nightmare. So, like, ma'am. She's telling him. Just tell him. Just tell him. But, you know, he understands her secrets and he comes closer, reassuring her that he'll cure the infection soon.
Speaker: And, you know, she kind of wants to be lost in him, so she pulls him in for a very heated kiss. only to be interrupted by Thistle dropping wine outside the parlor door. This part has me dead. They like hear something flatter and Elsa's like, oh, that was probably things were coming back.
Speaker: Oh my god. I mean, hey, shout out to Thistle for not saying a thing. He's like, me I'm out. Yep, he's just like, nope, I didn't see nothing. i didn't see it Becky that.
Speaker: So then they move on to Raven's bedroom. Which is, you know, a chaotic mess that he shares with her. Yeah. You know, I think that's sweet. ah He asks her what she wants, though. And she says to be here with you.
Speaker: Things get a little heated. And they have sex throughout the night with him carrying her to bed and we drift off together. cute. Okay.
Speaker: Okay. ah gay Oh my God, our last chapter this part. chapter for this part. So the next card kind of says that Providence guards are ageless and do not fade or decay over time.
Speaker: They also can't be destroyed. Yeah. So the next morning, Elspeth puts on her thin chemise. I don't know how to say that word. how you say it?
Speaker: Chemise? Chemise? chi is I have no clue. I have didn't listen to the audiobook for this part. have been reading i've been reading for so long and I read a lot of historical fiction so they have old school dress and I can tell you when I read this my brain is silent. I can't. I don't know.
Speaker: It's basically like a very thin It's like a really thin nightgown. Yeah. But it's like an undergarment thing. So she leaves Raven's room and bath. And Jesper catches her in the act.
Speaker: But she's got like a big old smile on her face. She's happy about it. You know, again, it's that sibling. Yes, yes. one And she's like, get good sleep.
Speaker: It's like, oh my god, I love it. So, Elspeth rushes to her room and gets dressed for the day. And then she heads down to breakfast where Esper is continuing to kind of snicker at her. She's like, i know. And, like, everybody's there except for Raven. And they're like, no Raven?
Speaker: But... Oh, he comes on And he's, everybody's kind of surprised because he comes in and he's smiling. Oh, he big old smile on his face. He's in a good mood. And Jesper makes like a quick little comment.
Speaker: yeah Elizabeth like kicks her under the table. which makes Elm kind of realize what's going on. And he's like, okay, I lost my appetite. I'm done. And he gets up and leaves the room. It is the cutest.
Speaker: Oh my God. Cutest little interaction. It is 100% siblings to a T, but I also love it because Elm is just like, a no, no, no. Just so done with it. Like, come on. You're just a little jealous. You just want what they have. don't know.
Speaker: You do. Emery then kind of begins to cough and it's blood. He's coughing of blood, which, you know, definitely dampens the mood. Everyone's worries about him.
Speaker: They agree to take him out to see the trees before taking it back to stone. Cause he had said that like the night before. Mm-hmm. So Elspeth walks with Raven and she tells him that she left that morning because she wanted him to get some rest. He asked.
Speaker: He asked. He was like, is it wrong okay? Yeah. She was like, no, no, no. just wanted you to get some sleep. But, you know, they're both happy with how the night ended. yeah So I like that. They're both like, okay, you good? You good? Yeah, we good. Yeah. um It's almost time for Emery to leave, though. So Elspeth kind of steals a moment alone with him and asks him to touch her again to see how close the nightmare is to taking over. Yikes. So Emery's scared by what he sees and tells her that she doesn't have long. Oh, my God. When the others come looking for them, she asks if he will tell them. And he says that he won't, that he'll forget everything by the next day.
Speaker: Comes with a degeneration. ah That is so sad. My heart. My poor little heart for Emery. Like, it's so sad. Yeah.
Speaker: Okay. We're going to dive into our questions because that's the end of part two. Who is your favorite character for this part? Raven. Yeah, Raven's my favorite. He's so, he turns around.
Speaker: He's, okay, so, I mean, he's not like a lot of our male characters where it, like, takes some time for him to kind of thaw towards her. i mean, it seemed like it because fighting the court. He's pretending to court the beginning. but we learned that because he... He actually genuinely had feelings for her But, like, we've talked he respects her boundaries, you know. She says she has secrets and, you know, he's like, there I get it, you know.
Speaker: Like, he's so freaking understanding and I love it. And he's like, you know what? No, I trust her. Yeah. I love that. it's It is a very, very nice, refreshing male lead comparatively to what we have seen. Yeah. But I do. I love what Elm too, though. And I want to shout out to Emery as well for his little humor. And we ask like he knows what it cost him to use his gift, he's still helping her out. Yeah. And he was buried on telling, you know, yeah, it's
Speaker: part of the generation but like oh and jesper again as we talked about it's all the sibling energy it is the sibling energy in this part was great and i know you said elm he's not technically like sibling but he kind of is he's like been raised with him yeah he like you know yeah it's it's that sarcastic brother vibes for sure what was your favorite twist Well, you you kind of stole mine. Okay, then I'll say it. So my favorite was that Elspeth's degeneration was that the Nightmare or Shepard King, whoever, is taking over the body. Finding that out for sure is definitely the biggest twist, I think.
Speaker: But I also like when we found out that Aurithula was infected. <unk> You liked that? No, I don't. It's not my favorite twist, but it was my it was one of the twists that I literally was like, oh my God, that makes sense. The king is so against infected people, but then he's literally not an infected person as the head person hunting down other infected. Like, really?
Speaker: really do he has multiple people who are infected and he's using for his personal mean yes but the orath don't know like and raven yeah no I know but I'm saying that orath is like for it yeah that's why I'm like don't like that I don't like it either so we have a lot of quotes for this uh part I did I pulled a you yeah you pulled a me and I pulled a you so um what was your favorite quote So we had mentioned it little bit.
Speaker: My number one quote was when I'm having their special emotional hug, she says, you know, no one had ever held me so tightly as if they needed me in their arms as much as I needed to be held as if nothing else mattered, but to hold one another.
Speaker: That's my favorite quote. I'm sorry I stole that. That's my favorite quote. I think in this, besides like the be wary, be clever, be good will always be my forever quote from this book, but that's second best. Yeah. I also love, you know, Raven and her talking before they attack the carriage to get the iron gate. He's talking about the spirit, saying that she's balanced. But the full quote is, I believe the spirit is the moon commanding the tide. She pulls us in, but also sets us free.
Speaker: She is neither good nor evil. She is magic, balanced, eternal. um Which I love that. Another great quote. And then lastly, this was just his voice for the depths of dark water, smooth, unwavering. I just like how, you know, pretty and poetic that is. But I also love that there are at least, you know, there are two water ocean related things, you know, magic smells of salt.
Speaker: Yeah. It also reminds me of Rune's magic. Smelling that. That it smelled like the ocean from Crimson Moth. Like magic, I think like magic smelling like salt is a very common thing. Yeah. Because if you think about it, like witches use magic salt rings and stuff like that.
Speaker: I don't know. That's just my thing. Very magical thing. I don't know. Yours? My favorite. All of mine were pretty pretty short, simple to the point because you stole a lot of my good ones. Sorry. No, it's fine. um One I said, perhaps it was he who got away from me, like our girl being creepy. I love it um The next one, my aunt had told me once that my strange charcoal eyes were special, beautiful even, a dark window to the soul beneath.
Speaker: Again, one dark ah dark window. A dark window. A dark window. i had to Coming from her aunt, which I will get to in just a second. Yep. And then my last one was, I traced the captain of the destrier's face with my eyes, lost in his past, starved for a story.
Speaker: I just like that. like she wants you to know about him. Yeah. And I'm like, that's just so sweet. Yeah.
Speaker: Thank you, baby. You don't go over there. Don't go over there. right. What is your biggest question or theory from this part? So, not really a question or theory, but, like, we know the weird vibes between, like, Ioni and Hoth.
Speaker: Like, Ioni is obviously taking pleasure in Hoth's pain and his, like, discomfort and, like, being front of him. Yeah. It's... but I'm questioning how how what what is going on with that relationship.
Speaker: We know something's got to be weird with our dynamic. It's got to be. And also thinking Elm likes Ione. I'm not the only one who's saying that. Yeah.
Speaker: Yeah, definitely. Yeah, yeah, yeah. yeah Okay. But then my question from the first part wasn't answered. What happens when she touches the other part? Like how does she absorb them?
Speaker: Like, that, like... How do you absorb a wild card? Yeah. How do you absorb a gate? Yeah. That, that to me doesn't make sense. But then, like, my last one is, if Elizabeth and the Nightmare are one and the same, when the mist gets lifted and the infection is cured, will Elizabeth die because they're connected?
Speaker: don't know! like He's part of her. i i really don't know. Yeah. I don't know because it's just a weird... Yeah. What are your questions, theories? Mine are... I want to know what happens to Elspeth specifically if the nightmare takes over. Yeah. Like, is she going to be a voice in his head like he is for her currently? Like, is she just going to be there?
Speaker: o Or... Can she like transform between them at well? Oh, that's interesting. I'm still leaning in werewolves. Somehow. Werewolf. Again, agreed. i want to know what the heck's up with Ioni. It's weird.
Speaker: I want to know because she seems very calculating now, which again is probably consequence of the card. But what is, what is her end game? What is, what is your deal?
Speaker: What's her end game? And, you know, obviously agree something that happens around Elm. um I also agree with Emery. Everyone else kind of just uses that theory, but I agree. to facebook play ten Oh, it makes 100% sense. And I still believe, I mentioned it this in the first part, I still believe that L. Smith is descended from the Spirit of the Wood.
Speaker: and that may be why that her and Raven are so drawn to each other. Because they're both same. The original powers. Oh my God. But also even more so her aunt seems to know more about the book of Baldur's. Like she's the one that her aunt told her, oh, the spirit tricked him. Well, that's not something that's in the book. That's something that Phyllic is like, yeah, that's something that us like historians like debate.
Speaker: But Aunt Opal seems to know that. So I'm wondering. She's a witch. Yeah. Or she's like. Or they are de descended from her. And she knows that. And so she's like trying to open up Elsa's eyes. Without being like obvious about it. don't know.
Speaker: Those my thoughts. I don't know. All right. Well that's the end of part two. And we will see y'all next Thursday. Yes. Thursday now. Remember.
Speaker: All right. Bye. Thank you for listening and tune back in next week for part three. And if you have a story you want us to tell, you can let us know on one of the platforms listed in the description. And while you're there, you can like and follow to stay up to date for the next story.
Speaker: Thank you for stopping by our tale. The library is now closed. Bye-bye.
Speaker: you
