Chapter 40 (Chapter 38): The School Massacre – Four Years Ago

⚠️ 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

Four years before the main timeline, Briony and Rory are at the Bomardi school near the border of Evermore and Bomard. A villager from Barta has been killed by a Bomardi, heightening tensions. During class, a hawk (Orion Hearst’s familiar) appears, and then the mountain shakes violently. The school begins to collapse. Bomardi adults—many of them parents of classmates—begin abducting Eversun students through portals. Briony uses her shield magic and later invisibility to search for Rory. She encounters Toven Hearst, who hides her from pursuers. Orion Hearst arrives to collect Toven and discovers Briony disguised as Larissa Gains. He sees through the disguise, informs her that her father Jacquel is incapacitated (dead), and gives her a vial of Trow blood so she can portal out. Briony learns that Rory and Cordelia have already been taken away by General Meers, leaving her behind. She portals to Biltmore, now an orphan and on her own.

Key Events

Briony and Rory learn of a fatal border incident at Barta.
In the year‑five classroom, a hawk appears just before the mountain quake.
The ceiling collapses; Briony protects herself with a shield.
Bomardi adults (including Liam Quill’s father and Riann Cohle) kidnap Eversun students via portals.
Briony fights off a man with a crooked nose (later called “the man with thick brows”) using combat magic.
She turns invisible to avoid capture while searching for Rory.
Toven Hearst drags her into an office and hides her from pursuers.
Orion Hearst arrives; Briony disguises herself as Larissa Gains to avoid recognition.
Orion reveals that General Meers has already taken Rory and Cordelia.
He sees through the disguise, tells Briony her father is dead (“incapacitated”), and gives her Genevieve Trow’s blood for a portal.
Briony portals to Biltmore, realizing she is now expendable.

Character Development

Briony Rosewood: Demonstrates quick thinking and will to survive. She uses shield magic, a basic invisibility spell (taught by Finola), and even attempts a physical disguise. Her determination to find her brother shows her loyalty, but later the sting of being left behind marks a turning point—she learns that even family can abandon her in a crisis.

Toven Hearst: Shows a protective side he rarely displays in the present. He hides Briony, argues with his father about taking “Larissa” with them, and hesitates before following Orion. This moment plants the first seed of his eventual conflict with his father and his hidden feelings for Briony.

Orion Hearst: Masterfully manipulative. He instantly sees through Briony’s disguise but pretends to believe she is Larissa. By telling her the borders are open and handing her a portal key, he gives her an escape while maintaining plausible deniability. His actions are ambiguous—is he helping her or setting a trap?

Rory and Cordelia: Their departure with General Meers—without a thought for Briony—fuels Briony’s sense of betrayal. This explains part of the later emotional distance between her and her brother.

Themes, Symbols, and Motifs

Betrayal and Trust: The attack is orchestrated by people the students trusted (parents, teachers). Briony’s own brother leaves her behind, and Orion’s “help” comes at the cost of her father’s life.
Survival and Resourcefulness: Briony uses every tool at her disposal: shield, invisibility, disguise, and finally a portal key. The chapter emphasizes that wit is as important as raw power.
Power and Blood Magic: Portals require the blood of the property owner (Trow blood). The coordinated attack relies on the Bomardi obtaining drops of Trow blood, showing how blood magic can be weaponized.
Loss of Innocence: The school—a place of supposed safety—becomes a battlefield. Briony’s childhood ends the moment she learns her father is dead and she must flee alone.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 40 provides the foundational trauma that shapes Briony’s character in the present timeline. It explains her distrust of Bomardi, her reluctance to rely on others, and her deep‑seated anger at being left behind by Rory. The attack also sets up the political conflict: Evermore’s king is dead, Rory becomes a young king under siege, and Briony is forced to survive on her own—events that directly lead to her capture by the Thornwood family later. Additionally, the moment with Orion Hearst foreshadows his ongoing manipulation and the complex relationship between the Hearst family and the Rosewood siblings.

Study Questions

Why does Orion Hearst give Briony the vial of Trow blood?
Answer: He knows that Jacquel Rosewood is dead and the borders are about to seal. By giving her the blood, he allows her to portal out before Evermore’s new king (Rory) can close the border. It may also be part of a longer game—keeping Briony alive and indebted to him.
How does Briony’s disguise as Larissa Gains fail, and why does Orion pretend not to notice?
Answer: Orion sees through the illusion immediately, likely because her magic is unstable. He goes along with it to avoid a confrontation in front of Toven and to give Briony a chance to escape without directly implicating himself in helping an Eversun royal.
What is the significance of Briony being the last one left behind?
Answer: It deepens her sense of isolation and betrayal. Rory and Cordelia are taken by General Meers without anyone coming to find her. This moment fuels her later independence and her fractured relationship with her brother, as she never fully trusts that he will put her first.