Chapter 13 Summary: Slade's Retribution in Derfort

⚠️ 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

The chapter opens with Slade walking through the decaying shore of Derfort. Fish rot in the brown foam, ships sink silently, and the once-raucous West End is now silent with death and fear. Slade’s power—his rot magic—hisses inside him as he surveys the carnage he has already inflicted on the crime lords who ran the flesh trade. He muses that Midas killed Auren’s former owner Zakir West and erased her existence from Derfort, only for new exploiters to take over. Slade holds back from killing a drunken man who stumbles out of a pub, deciding to spare him because Auren would not want innocents to suffer. Instead, he whispers “Run,” and the man flees.

Slade then meets Judd, his Wrath, on the beach. Judd reports that he delivered Slade’s message to the neutral zone, though he warns that others will inevitably rise. Slade thanks him, and Judd expresses willingness to return when needed. They discuss the package: Manu, the Gallenreef captain Slade kidnapped and kept alive by removing the rot from inside him. Judd offers to take Manu as a gift to Os in Fourth Kingdom. Slade agrees and directs Judd to fly ahead while he remains behind.

Alone, Slade tries to summon a rip to reach Auren but finds his power still depleted. He reflects on his unanswered questions about how Auren was smuggled from Annwyn to Orea. Frustrated, he mounts his timberwing Crest and soars into the sky, letting his spikes burst through his skin as he gives in to his consuming rage. The chapter ends with Slade embracing the fury that will eventually consume him whole.

Key Events

Slade destroys the East and West crime rows in Derfort, rotting buildings and people involved in the flesh trade.
He spares a drunk man from death because Auren would not want him to kill innocents.
Judd arrives and confirms he delivered Slade’s warning to the neutral zone.
Slade hands over Manu (the Gallenreef captain) as a captive to be taken to Os in Fourth Kingdom.
Slade’s attempt to open a rip to reach Auren fails; his power remains absent.
He flies away on Crest, spikes erupting from his skin as he yields to his rage.

Character Development

Slade is consumed by vengeance and grief. His rage is so intense that his rot magic writhes through his veins, and he struggles to control his urge to destroy everything. Despite this, he shows restraint by sparing the drunken man, revealing that his love for Auren still tempers his actions. He is haunted by her absence and the loss of his rip power, which leaves him trapped in Orea unable to reach her. His decision to capture Manu and use him as a bargaining chip shows he is willing to be strategic, but his inner emptiness suggests he is spiraling.

Judd remains Slade’s loyal and capable Wrath. He is jovial even after violence, yet his sharp questions about Slade’s condition show his concern. He willingly participates in Slade’s mission and takes charge of transporting Manu.

Manu is shown as a helpless captive, gagged and bound, forced to witness Slade’s massacres. His furious glare indicates defiance, but he is powerless.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Rage and Vengeance vs. Mercy: Slade’s internal conflict between annihilating all who wronged Auren and sparing the innocent underpins the chapter. His choice to let the drunk man live illustrates the moral line he draws for her sake.
Rot and Decay: The rotting fish, ships, and buildings symbolize how Slade’s power corrupts everything it touches. The decay also mirrors his internal state—his soul feels as poisoned as the shoreline.
The Gold Ribbon: Slade clutches a strip of gold ribbon in his pocket, a tangible connection to Auren. It represents his devotion and the hope that he will reunite with her.
Loss of Power: Slade’s inability to open a rip symbolizes his separation from Auren and his own identity. Without her, his power feels hollow, and he questions whether it will return.
The Wrath: Judd embodies the theme of controlled violence. He is cheerful yet deadly, serving as Slade’s instrument of justice.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter solidifies Slade’s role as a wrathful antihero driven by love and grief. It shows the lengths he will go to avenge Auren, cleansing Derfort of those who exploited her. It also deepens the mystery of Auren’s origin by highlighting how her path from Annwyn to Orea remains untraceable. Slade’s failure to open a rip raises the stakes for his quest to find her, and his capture of Manu sets up future confrontations with Gallenreef. Finally, the chapter’s closing image of Slade embracing his consuming rage foreshadows his potential downfall.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Slade spare the drunken man he encounters?
Slade spares the man because he has no proof that the man participated in the flesh trade, and more importantly, because Auren would not want him to kill innocents. Even in his rage, Slade honors her values.
What does the gold ribbon Slade holds represent?
The gold ribbon is a piece of Auren’s essence—a physical reminder of her. It grounds Slade and fuels his determination to find her, acting as a talisman against his despair.
How does Slade’s loss of his rip power affect his plans?
Without the ability to open a rip, Slade cannot follow Auren to wherever she was taken. He is forced to remain in Orea and channel his vengeance into hunting down everyone who harmed her, hoping that one day his power will return.