Chapter 37: The Last Eagle – Summary and Analysis
⚠️ Spoiler Notice
This page contains detailed spoilers for Morning Star (Book 3 of the Red Rising trilogy). If you have not finished the novel, proceed with caution.
Summary
Darrow visits Cassius, who is handcuffed to a gurney in the Sons of Ares infirmary, surrounded by wounded rebels. Cassius reveals that the Sovereign (Octavia) wanted to replace the Jackal because he was stockpiling helium and faking Sons of Ares attacks. More critically, the Jackal stole five hundred nuclear warheads (thirty megatons each) from a secret depot. Cassius warns that if cornered, the Jackal will use these weapons against Mars. Darrow realizes the war’s stakes have escalated beyond his control.
Key Events
- Darrow enters the infirmary and passes wounded rebels who reach out to touch him, marveling at his Sigil-free skin.
- Dancer deliberately placed Cassius in the main ward, not a private room, so he could witness the war’s cost.
- Guards wheel Cassius to a locked pharmacy for a private conversation.
- Cassius explains that the patients voted to give painkillers to burn victims and amputees, not to him.
- Darrow asks about information; Cassius reveals the Jackal’s helium stockpile and the theft of five hundred nuclear warheads.
- Cassius admits he told Darrow because Mars is his home and he fears the Jackal will use the weapons if the rebellion gains ground.
- Darrow silently processes the magnitude of the threat.
Character Development
Darrow – Shows a desperate desire for Cassius’s approval and friendship, admitting he craves it. He refuses to torture Cassius, choosing to break the cycle of evil they have done each other. His empathy and restraint mark a shift from his earlier brutal pragmatism.
Cassius au Bellona – Appears vulnerable, in pain, and stripped of his usual arrogance. He reveals genuine concern for Mars and his mother, suggesting his loyalty to the Sovereign is wavering. His decision to share intelligence with Darrow shows a crack in his conviction.
The Jackal (Adrius au Augustus) – Though absent, his menace looms. The revelation of his secret stockpile and nuclear arsenal paints him as a far more dangerous, unpredictable threat than previously understood.
Dancer – Implied through his decision to give Cassius equitable treatment—no cruelty, no special consideration—reinforcing his socialist principles.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
The Weight of War
The infirmary setting—filled with amputees, burn victims, and low-supply medicine—viscerally shows the human cost of rebellion. Cassius is forced to witness it, undercutting his Gold privilege.
Kinship and Redemption
Darrow’s internal monologue reveals an “ironclad kinship” with Cassius. He saved him not for strategy but out of a desire for friendship. The chapter questions whether honor and love can survive ideological divide.
Information as Power
The entire conversation is a trade of intelligence. Cassius’s data on the Jackal changes Darrow’s strategic calculus, shifting the focus from winning battles to preventing planetary annihilation.
The Corrupted Home
Cassius says he told Darrow because “Mars is my home too.” The symbol of home—Mars itself—becomes the ultimate prize and the ultimate hostage.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 37 is a turning point in Morning Star. It elevates the Jackal from a malicious but contained villain into a rogue nuclear threat. Cassius’s defection-in-miniature (sharing intel) creates a potential ally where there was an enemy. The chapter also forces Darrow to confront that victory may be hollow if Mars is destroyed. It sets up the final conflict with Adrius, where the stakes are no longer political but existential.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Cassius decide to share the location and scale of the nuclear stockpile with Darrow?
Cassius says he fears the Jackal will use the weapons against Mars if his back is to the wall. Despite his loyalty to Octavia, Cassius’s love for his homeworld and his mother outweighs his duty. He believes Darrow might survive the Jackal, but Mars might not.
2. How does the setting of the infirmary affect Cassius’s perspective?
Being placed among wounded lowColors, denied painkillers due to a patient vote, forces Cassius to witness the war’s suffering firsthand. It humanizes the rebels and makes him question the Gold cause he serves.
3. What does Darrow’s refusal to torture Cassius reveal about his character growth?
Darrow explicitly states he has “done enough evil” and wants to break the cycle of retaliation. This reflects his maturation from a vengeful revolutionary into a leader who values restraint and moral complexity.