Chapter 6: 'Four. Rune' — Summary and Analysis

⚠️ 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

At a New Republic social event, Rune moves through the crowded foyer, scanning for Blood Guard uniforms. She is looking for Gideon Sharpe, but he is not among the guards present. She wonders whether Gideon might be processing Seraphine or taking the night off, and she cannot stop herself from imagining the cruel treatment Seraphine may have endured at his hands. The thought fuels her hatred.

Rune works the room with practiced ease, smiling and chatting with well-connected attendees—daughters and sons of Tribunal members, Blood Guard affiliates, and others who enjoy showing off their connections. She gathers useful information while keeping her true purpose hidden. As she heads toward a salon where Blood Guard members often gather, Alex grabs her wrist and pulls her into a shadowed alcove.

Inside the alcove, Alex asks what happened. Rune tells him that Gideon reached Seraphine before she did. They hide when a group of voices, including Laila Creed's, passes nearby. Pressed close together, Rune is briefly tempted to rest in the safety of Alex's presence, but she remembers her mission. Alex whispers that he worries about her, and she deflects, pointing out that Verity and Lady look out for her. Alex counters that Lady is a horse and Verity is just as reckless.

When the intermission bells ring, Rune knows she still hasn't found Gideon. She refuses to let the night be wasted. She needs to learn where Seraphine is being held before the witch is transferred to the palace prison, which Rune believes is impregnable. If Seraphine is taken there, Rune will never be able to save her, and she will fail the last thing Nan asked of her.

Rune reminds Alex that he won't help her manipulate his brother. Alex has always drawn a line at Gideon, refusing to use the same deceptive tactics on him that they use on others. Rune recalls asking him once and receiving a sharp refusal. She also remembers that Alex helped kill the youngest Sister Queen, Cressida Roseblood, and that he did it for Gideon, though he never explains what that means. Rune knows Alex is loyal to her, but he is equally loyal to his brother, and that puts them at odds.

Rune also remembers her first meeting with Gideon when she was thirteen. She had developed a crush based on Alex's idealized stories, but Gideon refused to shake her hand and insulted her dress. That experience shattered her illusions about him and taught her that Alex's judgment of his brother was unreliable.

Now, Rune tells Alex she will cast a blood illusion using a vial of blood she has concealed in her dress. She only has one full vial left after this one, and she needs as much blood as possible to save Seraphine. Alex warns that Gideon will smell the magic on her. Rune then suggests inviting Gideon to her after-party, where she can keep his cup full of enchanted wine and question him. Alex points out that Gideon hates parties. Frustrated, Rune says she will think of something else.

Alex tells her he is sick of watching her walk into danger. Rune replies that he doesn't have to watch. She steps out of the alcove—and collides directly with a Blood Guard uniform.

Key Events

Rune searches the foyer for Gideon but finds no sign of him.
She works the crowd, gathering information from well-connected attendees.
Alex pulls her into an alcove and they discuss Gideon reaching Seraphine first.
They hide from passing voices, including Laila Creed's.
Rune reveals her fear that Seraphine will be taken to the impregnable palace prison.
Rune recalls Alex's refusal to manipulate Gideon and her first meeting with Gideon at thirteen.
Rune plans to use a blood illusion or invite Gideon to her after-party with enchanted wine.
Alex protests her recklessness.
As intermission ends, Rune steps out and collides with a Blood Guard uniform.

Character Development

Rune is shown as determined and self-sacrificing, willing to risk her safety to save Seraphine. Her hatred for Gideon is visceral, and her memory of Nan's request drives her forward. She is also vulnerable, briefly longing for safety in Alex's arms before pushing it aside.
Alex is protective and torn between loyalty to Rune and loyalty to his brother. He refuses to manipulate Gideon, even though he helps Rune deceive others. His concern for Rune is clear, but he cannot fully support her plan.
Gideon remains off-page but looms as a threat. His past cruelty to Rune and his role in Seraphine's capture establish him as a formidable antagonist.
Seraphine is a victim in peril, though she does not appear directly. Her fate raises the stakes for Rune.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Blood magic: Rune's vial of blood represents both her power and her vulnerability. She must ration it carefully, and using it for an illusion could leave her without resources to save Seraphine.
Loyalty conflict: Alex's refusal to manipulate Gideon highlights the tension between his devotion to Rune and his bond with his brother. Rune's own loyalty to Nan's memory drives her to take risks.
Deception and illusion: Rune's entire social performance—smiling, chatting, gathering information—is a form of deception. Her planned blood illusion and enchanted wine continue this motif.
Self-sacrifice: Rune is willing to spend her limited blood and put herself in danger for Seraphine, echoing her earlier sacrifice for Nan.
Witch persecution: The Blood Guard's hunt for witches, and the impregnable prison, show the brutal system Rune is fighting against.
Vengeance: Rune's hatred of Gideon is personal, rooted in his cruelty and his role in Seraphine's capture.
Secrecy: The alcove, hidden conversations, and Rune's concealed blood vial all emphasize the need for secrecy in a world where witches are hunted.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter deepens the central conflict by placing Rune in direct proximity to the enemy. It reveals the stakes of Seraphine's capture and the impossibility of rescuing her once she reaches the palace prison. It also develops the relationship between Rune and Alex, showing both their closeness and the fundamental disagreement over how to handle Gideon. The chapter ends on a cliffhanger—Rune colliding with a Blood Guard uniform—which sets up the next confrontation and raises the tension for the chapters to come.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Rune refuse to let the night end without finding Gideon?

Rune needs to learn where Gideon has taken Seraphine before the witch is transferred to the palace prison. She believes the prison is impregnable, and if Seraphine is taken there, Rune will be unable to save her. This would mean failing the last thing Nan asked of her.

What does Alex's refusal to manipulate Gideon reveal about his character?

Alex is loyal to Rune and helps her deceive others, but he draws a line at his brother. This shows that his loyalty to Gideon is absolute, even when it conflicts with Rune's mission. It also suggests that Alex has a moral boundary he will not cross, and that his relationship with Gideon is more complicated than simple sibling rivalry.

How does Rune's memory of meeting Gideon at thirteen shape her current actions?

Rune's first meeting with Gideon, when he insulted her dress and refused to shake her hand, shattered her childhood crush and taught her that Alex's stories about his brother were unreliable. This memory fuels her hatred and makes her more determined to outmaneuver Gideon, even though she knows he is dangerous.

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