Chapter 10 Summary: Rune
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All analysis is original and based on the events of this chapter.
The chapter is titled Ten. Rune and focuses on Rune's immediate aftermath of helping Gideon escape, her confrontation with Cressida, and her decision to undertake one final mission before fleeing.
The chapter is a turning point in Rune's internal conflict between self-preservation and her duty to protect other witches.
It also reveals crucial information about Cressida's plans and the possibility of a missing Roseblood heir.
The chapter is dense with thematic weight, exploring sacrifice, moral compromise, and the cost of survival.
The following sections break down the chapter's events, character development, and significance.
The summary is chronological and covers all major plot points.
The key events list highlights the most important moments.
The character development section examines how Rune, Seraphine, and Cressida evolve or are further revealed.
The themes section identifies recurring motifs and symbols that appear in this chapter.
The study questions are designed to test comprehension and encourage deeper analysis.
The navigation links at the bottom allow you to move to the previous or next chapter.
This chapter is a pivotal moment in the novel, setting up the next phase of Rune's journey.
Let's dive in.
Summary
The chapter opens with Rune hiding in her bed, feigning sleep as Prince Soren and his guards search for Gideon.
She has just helped Gideon escape, and she is covered in blood from her encounter with Ava.
She quickly smudges the spellmarks on her wrist to dissolve the Ghost Walker spell, leaving her visible.
Soren enters, checks on her, and orders his guards to bar all exits from the palace, determined to find Gideon.
After Soren leaves, Cressida enters the room.
She leans over Rune, her breath cold, and whispers, “I know what you did.”
Rune's heart races, fearing that Cressida has seen her casting signatures.
Cressida threatens her, saying that Gideon is hers and that Rune must not defy her again.
Rune is frozen with fear, feeling like prey under a predator's gaze.
Just as the tension peaks, Seraphine enters the room, offering to stay and ward the doors and windows to ensure Rune's safety.
Cressida is forced to leave to hunt Gideon, knowing that every moment she spends with Rune gives Gideon more time to escape.
Once Cressida is gone, Rune sits up and confesses to Seraphine that she shot Ava in self-defense.
She strips off her bloodstained dress and throws it into the fire, destroying the evidence.
She changes into a long-sleeved shirt from Soren's armoire.
Seraphine asks where Gideon is, and Rune says she doesn't know, hoping he is long gone.
Seraphine is confused, reminding Rune that Gideon came to kill her.
Rune explains that she saved him because she heard his scream and knew what Cressida intended to do to him.
She tells Seraphine that Cressida plans to resurrect Analise and Elowyn, and that resurrection spells require the sacrifice of a close relative.
Since the only living Roseblood is Cressida herself, Rune wonders if there might be another living Roseblood heir.
Rune reflects on her dilemma: she needs to put Cressida on the throne to stop the Blood Guard from slaughtering witches, but she is horrified by Cressida's actions.
She thinks about the alternative—witches being hunted until none remain.
She also considers the possibility of finding a missing Roseblood heir to prevent Cressida from using them as a sacrifice.
Seraphine urges Rune to flee, to buy passage on a ship and hide far away.
Rune pretends to agree, promising to run, but internally she decides to complete one last mission: rescue the sibyl from Blood Guard custody and find the missing heir before she leaves.
She knows a summoning spell that requires an ancient location, and she knows of a ring of summoning stones back on the island.
The chapter ends with Rune's resolve to act, even as she has promised to run.
Key Events
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Rune hides in bed and smudges her spellmarks to avoid detection.
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Soren checks on Rune and orders guards to seal the palace.
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Cressida confronts Rune, accusing her of helping Gideon escape.
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Seraphine intervenes, offering to ward the room, forcing Cressida to leave.
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Rune confesses to Seraphine that she shot Ava in self-defense.
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Rune burns her bloodstained dress to destroy evidence.
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Rune explains Cressida's plan to resurrect Analise and Elowyn, requiring a kin sacrifice.
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Rune considers the possibility of a missing Roseblood heir.
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Seraphine urges Rune to flee, but Rune decides to rescue the sibyl and find the heir first.
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Rune promises to run but plans one last mission.
Character Development
Rune is the central focus of this chapter.
Her internal conflict deepens as she grapples with the moral implications of supporting Cressida.
She saved Gideon, her would-be assassin, because she couldn't bear to see him suffer a fate worse than death.
This act shows her compassion, but it also complicates her political strategy.
She is torn between her duty to protect witches and her desire to avoid becoming complicit in Cressida's cruelty.
Her decision to rescue the sibyl and find the heir demonstrates her commitment to protecting others, even at great personal risk.
She is also shown to be resourceful, quickly destroying evidence and formulating a plan.
Her promise to run is a lie, revealing her willingness to sacrifice her own safety for the greater good.
Seraphine emerges as a loyal friend who is willing to risk Cressida's wrath to protect Rune.
She lies to Cressida, claiming she will ward the room, and then urges Rune to flee.
Her concern for Rune is genuine, and her habit of tracing the scar on her neck reveals her anxiety.
The scar is shaped like a kestrel, a symbol that connects her to Rune's grandmother's seal, hinting at a deeper connection between their families.
Seraphine's insistence that Rune run shows her pragmatism, but she is unaware of Rune's true intentions.
Cressida is portrayed as a predator, cold and menacing.
Her confrontation with Rune is filled with threat, and she is willing to punish Rune for disobedience, but her desire to catch Gideon takes precedence.
This reveals her single-mindedness and her belief that Gideon belongs to her.
She is also shown to be calculating, as she likely suspects Rune's involvement but chooses to bide her time.
Soren is briefly present, showing his concern for Rune's safety, but he is unaware of her true nature.
His orders to seal the palace demonstrate his determination to capture Gideon, but he is easily deceived by Rune's feigned sleep.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Resurrection Magic and Sacrifice: The chapter reveals that resurrection spells require the sacrifice of a close relative.
This introduces a dark magical cost and raises the stakes for Cressida's plan.
The idea of sacrificing kin for power is a recurring motif in fantasy, and here it underscores the moral corruption of Cressida's ambition.
Moral Compromise: Rune is forced to consider supporting Cressida, a tyrant, to stop a greater evil.
This theme of choosing the lesser of two evils is central to the novel.
Rune's internal debate about whether the patriots deserve their fate shows her struggle to maintain her own morality.
Duty vs. Self-Preservation: Seraphine urges Rune to run, but Rune feels a duty to the witches she left behind.
This conflict between personal safety and responsibility is a key driver of Rune's actions.
Deception and Hidden Identity: Rune's feigned sleep and her lie to Seraphine about running highlight the theme of deception.
She is constantly hiding her true intentions, even from her allies.
The smudging of her spellmarks is a literal act of concealment.
The Kestrel Symbol: The kestrel on Seraphine's scar connects her to Rune's grandmother's seal.
This symbol suggests a hidden lineage or shared history, and it may foreshadow Seraphine's true identity.
The kestrel is a bird of prey, which could symbolize Rune's own predatory nature or her role as a hunter.
Predator-Prey Dynamic: Cressida is described as a predator, and Rune feels like prey.
This dynamic is reinforced by Rune's fear and her inability to move.
It also reflects the larger conflict between witches and witch hunters.
Blood as Evidence: Rune's bloodstained dress and hands are physical evidence of her crime.
Burning the dress symbolizes her attempt to erase her past and start anew, but the blood on her hands is metaphorical as well, representing her guilt.
The Missing Roseblood Heir: The possibility of another living Roseblood introduces a new plot thread.
This heir could be a potential sacrifice or a rival to Cressida.
Rune's decision to find them shows her desire to protect them from Cressida's machinations.
Cycle of Persecution: Rune reflects on how the patriots have persecuted witches, and she wonders if they deserve what is coming.
This raises questions about vengeance and justice, and whether perpetuating violence is ever justified.
Freedom vs. Obligation: Rune feels free without Alex to hold her back, but she also feels obligated to help others.
This tension between personal freedom and responsibility is a recurring theme.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is a turning point in the novel.
It solidifies Rune's commitment to her cause, even as she faces personal danger.
The revelation of Cressida's resurrection plan and the potential existence of a missing Roseblood heir adds a new layer of intrigue and raises the stakes for the rest of the story.
Rune's decision to rescue the sibyl and find the heir sets up the next phase of her journey, moving her away from the palace and into a new adventure.
The chapter also deepens the relationship between Rune and Seraphine, hinting at a deeper connection through the kestrel symbol.
It showcases Rune's resourcefulness and moral complexity, making her a more compelling protagonist.
The themes of sacrifice and moral compromise are central to the novel's exploration of power and resistance.
This chapter is essential for understanding Rune's motivations and the challenges she will face.
Study Questions and Answers
- Why does Rune decide to save Gideon, despite the fact that he came to kill her?
Answer: Rune saves Gideon because she hears his scream and realizes what Cressida intends to do to him. She believes that no one deserves a fate like that, not even her worst enemy. Her compassion overrides her self-preservation, and she cannot stand by while Cressida tortures him. This decision also complicates her plan to support Cressida, as she now knows the extent of Cressida's cruelty.
- What is Cressida's plan, and why does it require a sacrifice?
Answer: Cressida plans to resurrect Analise and Elowyn, who are long dead. Resurrection spells require the sacrifice of someone closely related to the deceased, such as a parent, sibling, or child. Since the only living Roseblood is Cressida herself, she would need to sacrifice herself, which seems unlikely. This leads Rune to suspect that there might be another living Roseblood heir, whom Cressida could use as a sacrifice.
- How does Rune's decision to rescue the sibyl and find the heir reflect her internal conflict?
Answer: Rune is torn between her desire to flee and her duty to protect other witches. She knows that if she runs, the alliance with Cressida will crumble, and the Blood Guard will continue hunting witches. By deciding to rescue the sibyl and find the heir, she chooses to act on her responsibility, even though it puts her in danger. This decision shows that she is willing to sacrifice her own safety for the greater good, but it also means she is not truly free to live her own life.