Chapter Thirty-Seven: Rhysand Confronts a Shade
Spoiler Notice: This page contains full spoilers for Chapter 38 of A Court of Wings and Ruin. If you haven't read this far, proceed with caution.
Summary
Rhysand boards a Hybern ship during the Battle of Adriata with blood dripping from his blades. He confronts the King of Hybern, who stands unarmed and clean, dressed in slate gray and bone. In his mind, Rhys is silent, and Feyre watches helplessly through the bond. The king reveals he laid a trap to discover which High Lord would hunt the source of the spell dampening their power, and Rhys walked right into it. Their conversation is a duel of words: the king mocks Rhys about Amarantha and taunts him, revealing that Feyre’s destruction of the Spring Court allowed Hybern to plant more troops on Tamlin’s lands. The king knows Feyre is Rhys’s mate and threatens to take her after Rhys is dead. Rhys probes the king’s mind but finds only emptiness. He rallies his magic and hurls a javelin of power, but the king is an illusion—a shade that ripples and vanishes. With the king gone, the oily magic suppressing Rhys’s power also disappears. Rhys then unleashes his full strength, turning the Hybern soldiers around him into red mist and splinters on the waves.
Key Events
- Rhysand arrives on the Hybern flagship with blood on his swords, having fought through the battle.
- The King of Hybern appears unarmed and unbloodied, showing no fear.
- The king states he set a trap to find which High Lord would arrive first to break the power-dampening spell.
- Rhys tries to read the king’s mind but meets a void—no trace of thought.
- The king deliberately provokes Rhys by invoking Amarantha’s name and detailing how Feyre’s actions in the Spring Court aided Hybern’s troop deployments.
- The king threatens to take Feyre for himself after Rhys’s death, and to give her to Tamlin.
- Rhys launches a javelin of magic at the king, but the king proves to be an illusion and vanishes.
- The spell draining Rhys’s power lifts immediately after the illusion disappears.
- Rhys obliterates the Hybern soldiers on the surrounding ships, leaving only mist and debris.
Character Development
- Rhysand: His strategic mind and restraint are on full display. He knowingly walked into a trap to gather intelligence and break the spell. He endures the king’s taunts about Amarantha and Feyre without losing composure, though his internal rage is immense. When the moment comes, he unleashes devastating power.
- King of Hybern: Revealed as a cunning and sadistic opponent who prefers psychological warfare. He uses illusions and traps, delights in pain, and harbors a deep grudge against the post-war order that marginalized the Loyalists. His threat to take Feyre underscores his cruelty.
- Feyre: Though not physically present, her perspective through the mate bond dominates the chapter. Her desperation and repeated pleas for Rhys to kill the king reveal her protective fierceness and fear for his safety. She also learns with horror that her own actions inadvertently helped Hybern.
- Tamlin (mentioned): The king implies Tamlin has plans for vengeance against Rhys and Feyre, confirming Tamlin’s collusion with Hybern is ongoing.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Illusion vs. Reality: The king’s shade is the central motif—nothing is as it seems. Rhys’s power is suppressed by an unseen spell, and the enemy leader is a mirage, emphasizing that this war will be fought with deception.
- Power and Powerlessness: Rhys operates at a fraction of his strength, forced to stall while searching for the spell’s tether. The king holds all the cards, but Rhys reclaims his power the instant the illusion vanishes, turning the tables instantly.
- Psychological Warfare: The king weaponizes Amarantha’s name, Feyre’s guilt, and threats against his mate. He attempts to break Rhys’s focus through emotional torment rather than direct combat.
- Consequences of Past Actions: Feyre’s destruction of the Spring Court is explicitly framed as a mistake that gave Hybern a foothold, reinforcing the theme that impulsive vengeance can have dire strategic costs.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter transforms the Battle of Adriata from a simple naval clash into a personal and psychological duel between the two leaders of the war. It establishes the King of Hybern not as a brutish warrior but as a manipulative genius who uses traps, illusions, and emotional manipulation. The revelation that Feyre’s actions in the Spring Court directly enabled Hybern to plant troops raises the personal stakes and deepens her guilt. The chapter also demonstrates that Rhysand’s power, when unleashed, is terrifyingly absolute—yet the king remains untouchable, leaving the war far from over. It marks a turning point where the conflict is no longer about territory but about a direct, hateful vendetta between the king and Rhysand.
Study Questions and Answers
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Why does the King of Hybern mention Amarantha, and what effect does it have on Rhysand?
The king uses Amarantha’s name to provoke Rhysand by referencing his traumatic past under her control. It’s a calculated attempt to anger or distract Rhys so he’ll make a mistake. Rhysand feels a deep urge to erase her memory entirely, but he maintains his composure outwardly. -
What does Feyre learn about the consequences of her time in the Spring Court?
The king reveals that Feyre’s sabotage of Tamlin’s court—breaking his trust and destabilizing his lands—made it easier for Hybern to move troops into the Spring Court territory. Her actions, meant to harm Tamlin, accidentally aided the enemy. -
How does the chapter illustrate the difference between Rhysand and the King of Hybern’s approaches to power?
Rhysand fights directly and relies on his raw magical strength and strategic alliances, even when outmatched. The king relies on traps, illusions, and psychological attacks, avoiding direct confrontation altogether. This contrast shows that the king fights to preserve himself and demoralize, while Rhysand is willing to risk himself to protect others.