Chapter Sixty: The Children’s Escape

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Romeria and Jarek hide behind a hedge watching Gracen lead the children of the captured nobles out of the ballroom for a garden walk—a diversion Gracen arranged. They see the seamstress Dagny, a blond mortal woman named Sabrina holding Lilou’s hand, and Mika. Three guards escort the group. When the guards try to turn the children back before reaching the nymphaeum, Jarek kills all three with thrown daggers. Children scream and begin to scatter. Romeria removes her mask to reveal her true face, which calms many. Gracen feels guilt over the dead guards. Sabrina initially refuses to cooperate, calling Romeria a traitor, but Jarek’s threat and Corrin’s persuasion win her over. The group hurries to the nymphaeum portal. Dagny asks Romeria to find her sons Dagnar and Albe still in the castle. Romeria opens the portal, sending the first batch of children through to Ulysede, where Lucretia and Eden wait. She immediately prepares for the next group as more children arrive.

Key Events

• Romeria and Jarek observe the children’s garden walk from a hedge.
• Gracen leads the group, with her baby in a sling; Dagny, Sabrina, Mika, and Lilou are among those present.
• The guards order the children to turn back, but Gracen hesitates, buying time.
• Jarek kills the three guards with throwing daggers, startling the children.
• Romeria removes her mask to reveal her identity, helping to calm the crowd.
• Sabrina accuses Gracen of betrayal and refuses to go with Romeria; Jarek and Corrin force her compliance.
• The group reaches the nymphaeum; Dagny begs Romeria to find her sons.
• The alarm bell tolls, signaling an attack on Cirilea, but Romeria prioritizes the children’s evacuation.
• Romeria uses her affinity to open the stone portal, sending the first group of children to Ulysede.
• Lucretia appears in Ulysede wearing a smock; Romeria instructs Fikar to take the children up to Eden.
• Romeria readies for the next wave of children as more arrive.

Character Development

• Romeria: Shows leadership under pressure, balancing mercy (not killing Sabrina) with ruthlessness (accepting the need to kill guards). Her internal conflict grows as she worries about Gesine and the legionaries while staying focused on the evacuation.
• Jarek: Demonstrates deadly efficiency and unwavering commitment to the plan, though his threat against Sabrina nearly backfires. His pragmatism contrasts with Romeria’s more diplomatic approach.
• Gracen: Wrestles with guilt over the deaths of the guards, revealing a compassionate nature that makes her role as insider emotionally costly.
• Sabrina: Begins as a loyal Atticus supporter but is swayed by Corrin’s appeal and Jarek’s intimidation, showing how fear and loyalty can be redirected.
• Dagny: Her affection for Romeria is clear; she risks asking for help finding her sons, adding a personal stake to the escape.
• Lucretia: Makes a brief comic appearance in a smock, subtly showing her earlier disagreement with Romeria about attire for the children.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

• Masks and identity: Romeria’s removal of her mask to reveal her true face symbolizes the shift from disguise to authenticity, building trust with the children.
• Mortality vs. mission: The dead guards represent the cost of freedom; Jarek’s casual acceptance of killing contrasts with Romeria’s desire to avoid unnecessary bloodshed.
• The labyrinth as a symbol: The cedar labyrinth near the nymphaeum hints at the complex choices facing the characters—whether to follow the obvious path (the main route) or the bewildering one (the maze).
• The bell as a motif: The frantic tolling bell announces the attack on Cirilea, heightening tension and forcing Romeria to compartmentalize her priorities.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter Sixty is a turning point in the Ulysede siege: the safe evacuation of the children removes a key hostage asset from Atticus’s control, potentially eroding his leverage over the nobles. The chapter also deepens the moral complexity of Romeria’s war—she must accept the deaths of innocent guards to achieve a larger good. The distraction of the city attack, signalled by the bell, suggests that Gesine’s legionaries are engaging the enemy, creating a window for the escape but also raising the stakes for the larger battle. Finally, this chapter sets up Romeria’s promise to Dagny to find her sons, which may lead her into danger inside the castle.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Romeria remove her mask in front of the children, and what effect does it have?
She removes her mask to show her real face, which many children might recognize from her time in Cirilea. This calms their panic and builds trust, demonstrating that identity—not disguise—can pacify fear.

2. How does Jarek’s approach to the mission conflict with Romeria’s, and how do they resolve it?
Jarek is willing to kill anyone—including the guards and even Sabrina—without hesitation. Romeria prefers non-lethal solutions where possible, such as using a water arrow instead of a knife. They resolve the conflict through compromise: Jarek kills the guards as necessary, but Romeria prevents him from harming Sabrina, and their partnership continues.

3. What function does the alarm bell serve in this chapter’s narrative?
The bell announces an attack on the city, creating an urgent distraction that helps the evacuation proceed without immediate pursuit. It also deepens Romeria’s anxiety about Gesine and the legionaries, forcing her to focus on her own task while the larger battle rages elsewhere.

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