Chapter 67: Gideon — 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
The chapter opens with Gideon standing at a second-floor window of the Wentholts' cottage, still damp from his earlier plunge into the waterfall. He watches Rune ride Lady out through the gates, and in that moment he knows—somehow—that she will not return. He lingers at the glass long after she disappears into the woods, questioning whether he made the right choice by staying behind.
Harrow finds him there, her hair down for the first time in a way that softens her usual hard edges. She challenges his decision, pointing out that Westport Station is swarming with Cressida's soldiers and spies, and that witch-hunting hounds are present to sniff out the Crimson Moth. She urges him to at least follow Rune and make sure she boards her train safely. Gideon explains that the girl he loves would never respect a man who willingly abandons innocents to be slaughtered, and that if he went with her, she would come to despise his cowardice—and he would despise himself. He believes Rune is still the same person beneath her fear and anger, just temporarily lost.
Harrow's concern surprises Gideon, and he suspects her witch, Juniper, has something to do with her change of heart. Harrow denies it, but Gideon glimpses a crack in her armor. When he asks if she's now on his side, she deflects, saying she's with whoever pays the most. Gideon notes that she never charged him before, and she replies that there's always more than one kind of payment. This leaves Gideon wondering what currency Harrow is trading in now—perhaps purging witches was the payment all along.
Gideon arrives at Westport Station wearing a borrowed brown traveling suit and a wool cap, hoping to blend in. The station is in chaos: it's shuttering at sundown by order of the queen, who is hunting a rogue witch rumored to be the Crimson Moth. The train on the tracks is the last one leaving, and Rune needs to be on it. Gideon spots her almost immediately, though she has altered her appearance—her hair is now pale gold, her chin more pointed, and her eyes blue instead of gray. He watches her push through the crowd toward the ticket inspector.
As the stationmaster announces last call, a hunting hound drags a soldier through the crowd, heading directly toward Rune. Gideon realizes that even if she boards the train, the dog will follow her in, trapping her. He shoves through the crowd, steps in front of the dog, and deliberately gets himself caught in its leash. He pretends to stumble, causing a scene, and blocks the soldier's view of Rune. The soldier warns him to step aside, but Gideon keeps the confrontation going, even shoving the soldier to draw more attention. Two more soldiers arrive, and Gideon continues to argue, ensuring all eyes stay on him. The train whistles, and Gideon sees Rune disappear inside just as the porter pulls the steps away. The train begins to pull away, and Gideon knows Rune is safe.
But then a woman with silver casting scars on her cheeks approaches, recognizing him as Captain Sharpe. She lifts a casting knife to his throat, confiscates the gun from his belt, and tells him her orders are to bring him in dead or alive. She prods him toward the tracks, and Gideon is captured.
Key Events
-
Gideon watches Rune ride away from the Wentholts' cottage, sensing she won't return.
-
Harrow confronts Gideon, warning him about the soldiers and hounds at Westport Station, and urges him to ensure Rune's safety.
-
Gideon explains his choice to stay behind, citing his love for Rune and his refusal to abandon innocents.
-
Harrow's demeanor shifts, hinting at a change in her loyalties, and she makes a cryptic comment about payment.
-
Gideon arrives at Westport Station disguised in a borrowed suit and cap.
-
He spots Rune, who has altered her appearance, and watches her approach the ticket inspector.
-
A hunting hound drags a soldier toward Rune, threatening to trap her on the train.
-
Gideon deliberately gets caught in the dog's leash, causing a scene to block the soldier's view and allow Rune to board.
-
The train departs safely with Rune aboard.
-
A witch with silver casting scars recognizes Gideon, holds a knife to his throat, confiscates his gun, and takes him into custody.
Character Development
Gideon undergoes a profound test of his moral integrity. His decision to stay behind, despite his love for Rune, demonstrates his commitment to protecting innocents over personal happiness. He articulates that the girl he loves would never respect a man who abandons others to slaughter, revealing that his sense of duty is intertwined with his love. At the station, he risks his own freedom to ensure Rune's escape, using his physical presence and quick thinking to create a diversion. His willingness to be captured rather than let Rune be trapped shows his selflessness and his belief that his own safety is secondary to hers.
Harrow shows a subtle but significant shift. Her concern for Rune's safety, though she tries to hide it, suggests that her relationship with Juniper and her past with Gideon are beginning to soften her hard exterior. Her comment about payment—that there's always more than one kind—hints at a deeper moral reckoning. She has given Gideon information freely before, but now she seems to be questioning what she truly owes him or what she's truly fighting for.
Rune, though she appears only briefly, is shown to be resourceful and determined, altering her appearance to evade detection. Her successful boarding of the train underscores her resilience, but also leaves her unaware of Gideon's sacrifice.
The witch who captures Gideon is a new antagonist, a woman with silver casting scars who recognizes him instantly. Her efficiency and authority—she outranks the soldiers—suggest she is a formidable force, and her orders to bring him in dead or alive raise the stakes for Gideon's immediate future.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Sacrifice and Love vs. Duty: Gideon's choice to stay behind is a classic conflict between love and duty. He loves Rune, but he cannot abandon the innocents who would be slaughtered if he left. His sacrifice at the station—risking capture to save Rune—is a direct expression of this theme. He prioritizes her safety over his own freedom, showing that love sometimes requires letting go.
Moral Integrity and Selflessness: Gideon's actions are driven by a strong moral compass. He refuses to be a coward, even if it means losing Rune. His selflessness is evident when he deliberately entangles himself in the dog's leash, turning himself into a target to protect her.
Identity Concealment: Both Gideon and Rune use disguises to move through the world. Gideon wears a borrowed suit and cap; Rune alters her appearance. This motif highlights the dangers they face and the lengths they must go to survive in a world where their true identities could get them killed.
Cost of Choices and Payment: Harrow's cryptic remark about payment introduces a theme of transactional relationships. Gideon wonders if his past purging of witches was a form of payment to Harrow. This suggests that every choice has a cost, and that loyalty and friendship may come with hidden debts.
The Last Train: The train symbolizes escape and the final opportunity to leave a dangerous situation. Its departure marks a point of no return for Rune, while Gideon remains behind, facing the consequences of his choice.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is a turning point for Gideon. It solidifies his character as someone who will sacrifice his own happiness and safety for the greater good, and it sets up his capture, which will likely drive the next phase of the plot. The chapter also deepens Harrow's character, hinting at a potential shift in her allegiance. The successful escape of Rune, combined with Gideon's capture, creates a dramatic irony: Rune is safe but unaware of what Gideon has done for her, while Gideon is now at the mercy of Cressida's forces. This sets the stage for high-stakes conflict and emotional reckoning in the chapters to come.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Gideon choose to stay behind instead of going with Rune?
Gideon stays because he believes that the girl he loves would never respect a man who willingly abandons innocents to be slaughtered. He also fears that if he went with her, she would come to despise his cowardice, and he would despise himself. His love for Rune is intertwined with his moral integrity; he cannot be the man she loves if he compromises his principles.
2. How does Gideon's action at the station reflect his character?
Gideon's action—deliberately getting caught in the dog's leash to block the soldier's view—shows his quick thinking, selflessness, and willingness to put himself in danger for Rune's safety. He creates a scene to draw attention away from her, even knowing that this could lead to his own capture. This act demonstrates his commitment to protecting others, even at great personal cost.
3. What does Harrow's comment about payment reveal about her character and her relationship with Gideon?
Harrow's comment that there's always more than one kind of payment suggests that she is reflecting on the nature of her relationship with Gideon. She has given him information freely in the past, but now she seems to be questioning what she truly owes him or what she's truly fighting for. It hints at a deeper moral reckoning and a possible shift in her loyalties, especially given her earlier concern for Rune's safety.