Chapter 22: The Villain
Spoiler Notice
This page contains full spoilers for Chapter 22 of Apprentice to the Villain. If you haven’t read this chapter yet, proceed at your own risk.
Summary
Trystan confronts a knight who recognizes him from a fleeting, friendly exchange a decade ago, just before Trystan’s imprisonment. The knight claims he slipped away from the king’s forces after learning the order to steal the stardust and waited for the right moment to reveal himself. When Sage throws her arms around the man, Trystan’s jealousy surges; he considers beating the knight with his own helmet. Clare nearly throws leftover orange ink, and Tatianna and Clare intervene to stop Trystan. Kingsley’s sign flashes an unhelpful “Uh-Oh.” The tension snaps when Sage introduces the knight as Gideon, her older brother, long thought dead. Trystan is left stupefied, embarrassed by his rage, and the chapter ends with his realization that Sage has turned a hero—her own brother—into an ally.
Key Events
- A knight greets Trystan warmly, recalling their brief conversation ten years ago before Trystan was imprisoned.
- The knight explains he avoided the earlier meeting because he wanted to slip away without suspicion, then heard the king’s orders to rob the group of the stardust, which gave him the perfect entrance.
- Sage impulsively hugs the knight, wiping dirt from his face and fretting over him, which ignites Trystan’s furious jealousy.
- Trystan fantasizes about attacking the knight, and Clare reaches for orange ink before Tatianna stops both of them.
- Kingsley the frog holds up a sign reading “Uh-Oh,” underlining the chaos.
- Sage finally presents the knight as Gideon Sage, her older brother, shattering Trystan’s mistaken perception.
Character Development
- Trystan (The Villain): His deep-seated possessiveness and jealousy toward Sage are laid bare. He leaps to the assumption that any man receiving her affection is a romantic threat. The chapter also exposes how his magic and darker impulses rise unbidden, needing external restraint. His eventual shock highlights his vulnerability and misjudgment.
- Sage: She displays fierce affection and relief at her brother’s survival, showcasing her loyalty and emotional warmth. Her ability to “flip a hero” is noted even by Trystan.
- Gideon Sage: Revealed as a covert ally planted among the king’s knights. His theatrical timing and familiarity with the stardust plot mark him as a clever strategist who has been working behind enemy lines.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Jealousy and Possession: Trystan’s internal war between wanting Sage to find affection elsewhere and the primitive urge to eliminate any rival drives the chapter’s tension.
- Mistaken Identity and Revelation: The knight’s true identity flips the scene from violent impulse to family reunion, emphasizing how assumptions can distort reality.
- Turning Enemies into Allies: Gideon’s presence as a plant in the king’s forces embodies the larger pattern of flipping loyalties that Sage has catalyzed.
- Frog Communication: Kingsley’s “Uh-Oh” sign functions as a whimsical but accurate barometer of danger and chaotic situations.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter upends a critical piece of Sage’s backstory: her brother is alive and has been gathering intelligence from within the king’s knights. The revelation injects a powerful new ally into the group and reshapes the stakes around the stardust heist. For Trystan, the encounter forces him to confront the intensity of his feelings for Sage and his struggle to keep his darker instincts in check. The moment also demonstrates Sage’s growing influence in turning potential enemies into comrades, strengthening the team’s position against the king.
Study Questions and Answers
- Why does Trystan initially want to harm the knight? He mistakes the knight for a romantic rival because Sage hugs and fusses over him. This triggers his possessive instincts and unbridled jealousy, making him fantasize about violence.
- How does Gideon’s revelation reframe the earlier plans around the stardust? Gideon reveals he deliberately lingered near the king’s forces and learned of their order to steal the stardust. His insider knowledge now gives the group a strategic advantage, turning a passive theft plot into a counter-strike opportunity.
- What does the chapter show about Trystan’s control over his emotions and magic? Trystan’s anger nearly unleashes a violent outburst, and he requires physical restraint from Clare and Tatianna. His subsequent shock at the truth suggests that his emotional control is fragile, and his darker side is always simmering just beneath the surface.
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