Chapter 70 Summary and Study Guide

⚠️ 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

Evar bursts from the pool, no longer a ghost, and races through the library with desperate hope. He passes tumbling book towers and glimpses a trio of skeer moving through the stacks. He shouts Livira’s name as he skids into the corridor, only to find the door still open and dozens of dead skeer scattered across the floor. The Soldier’s body lies broken, his lower half gone, his fingers still buried in a skeer’s eye sockets. Then Evar sees Livira’s shattered form—her white body broken as if she had fallen from a great height. He falls to his knees beside her, grief overwhelming him. He sobs and howls his sorrow to the unseen moons.

Meanwhile, Livira and Malar observe as ghosts. Livira wipes her eyes, touched by Evar’s grief, while Malar dismisses it as excessive. Livira reaches out and touches Evar’s shoulder, whispering, “Get up, you. I still need saving.” Something deeper than grief forces Evar to his feet, and he turns to face the three skeer that have appeared at the far end of the corridor. He draws his knife, knowing he cannot win but determined to die defending Livira’s remains.

Just as the skeer close in, Clovis arrives like a whirlwind. She leaps onto the middle skeer and drives the Soldier’s white blade through its head. She moves with deadly grace, dispatching the second skeer with a series of joint wounds. But a blow knocks her to the ground, and she struggles to rise. Evar and Kerrol climb onto the third skeer, stabbing at it. Evar drives his knife into its eye, but the creature only convulses and turns on him. Clovis recovers and slams the sword through its head, killing it.

The group notices a single skeer waiting at the doorway. Clovis explains it’s waiting for reinforcements—the skeer are relentless and want everything. Evar returns to the Assistant’s remains, grief-stricken. Kerrol asks about the book, revealing he knows about its significance. He mentions that the Assistant had said half the book was still blank. Kerrol also reveals he never believed Mayland was dead, and that leaving the door open was a mistake. He walks toward the door, saying he knows where to find Livira, and Clovis follows.

Key Events

• Evar emerges from the pool and races through the library, passing tumbling book towers and three skeer.

• He reaches the corridor, finds dozens of dead skeer and the Soldier’s body, then discovers Livira’s shattered form.

• Evar grieves openly, howling his sorrow; Livira, as a ghost, touches his shoulder and tells him she still needs saving.

• Evar turns to face three approaching skeer, preparing to fight with his knife.

• Clovis arrives, kills two skeer with the Soldier’s blade, but is knocked down.

• Evar and Kerrol attack the third skeer; Evar stabs it in the eye, but it survives until Clovis finishes it.

• They note a skeer waiting at the door, which Clovis says is awaiting reinforcements.

• Evar returns to the Assistant’s remains, and Kerrol asks about the book, discussing its blank half.

• Kerrol reveals he knew Mayland wasn’t dead and that leaving the door open was a mistake.

• Kerrol walks toward the door, saying he knows where to find Livira, and Clovis follows.

Character Development

• Evar: His grief over Livira’s apparent death is raw and visceral. He is willing to sacrifice himself to defend her remains, showing his deep love and commitment. Yet Livira’s ghostly touch pulls him back from despair, and he finds the strength to fight. His journey from grief to resolve is central here.

• Clovis: She emerges as a formidable warrior, using the Soldier’s blade with deadly precision. Her combat skill and ferocity are on full display, and she seems to have found her purpose in battle. Her brief moment of being knocked down shows her vulnerability, but she recovers to finish the fight.

• Kerrol: He reveals his perceptiveness and hidden knowledge. He knew about the book, about Mayland’s survival, and understands the larger picture. His calm, analytical demeanor contrasts with Evar’s emotional turmoil, and he takes charge by walking toward the door.

• Livira: Even as a ghost, she remains active and determined. She comforts Evar and reminds him she still needs saving, showing her resilience and love. Her observation of Evar’s grief also highlights her own emotional depth.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

• Grief and Love Transcending Death: Evar’s howling grief and Livira’s ghostly touch illustrate that love persists beyond physical death. Livira’s presence as a ghost allows her to reach Evar, reinforcing the idea that emotional bonds are not severed by mortality.

• Sacrifice and Courage: Evar’s willingness to die defending Livira’s remains, and Clovis’s fearless attack on the skeer, highlight the theme of self-sacrifice in the face of overwhelming odds.

• Family Loyalty: The siblings—Evar, Clovis, and Kerrol—fight together, with Clovis saving Evar and Kerrol joining the attack. Their bond is tested but holds strong.

• Circle Through Time: Evar’s reflection on the book as a “circle through time” suggests that events are interconnected across past, present, and future. The blank half of the book hints at unfinished stories that may yet be written.

• Ghosts as Observers: Livira and Malar watch the battle as ghosts, unable to intervene directly but still influencing events through emotional connection. This motif underscores the idea that even the dead can shape the living’s actions.

• Relentless Enemy: The skeer are portrayed as tenacious and unyielding, waiting for reinforcements and never giving up. This emphasizes the ongoing threat and the cost of war.

• The Door Left Open: Kerrol’s comment that leaving the door open was a mistake highlights the consequences of past actions and the importance of closing off dangers.

• The Bigger Picture: Kerrol’s insistence that Evar has been “missing the bigger picture” points to the larger narrative at play, involving Mayland, the book, and the fate of the library.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is a turning point in the narrative. It brings Evar’s grief to the forefront, only to rekindle hope through Livira’s ghostly intervention. The battle with the skeer showcases the siblings’ combat abilities and sets the stage for their next move. Kerrol’s revelations about the book and Mayland shift the focus from immediate survival to the larger mystery. His decision to walk toward the door, claiming he knows where to find Livira, propels the story forward and raises the stakes. The chapter also reinforces key themes of love, sacrifice, and the power of stories, while leaving readers eager to see how Evar will follow his brother.

Study Questions

1. Why does Evar initially choose to fight the skeer rather than run?

• Evar is overwhelmed by grief and believes Livira is dead. He feels that dying in defense of her remains is the right thing to do, and he has no desire to survive without her. His decision reflects his deep love and his willingness to sacrifice himself.

1. What does Kerrol’s knowledge about the book and Mayland reveal about his character?

• Kerrol is observant and analytical. He has been paying attention to details that others overlook, such as the book’s significance and Mayland’s survival. His calm demeanor and strategic thinking contrast with Evar’s emotional state, and he seems to have a broader understanding of the events unfolding.

1. How does Livira’s ghostly touch affect Evar’s actions?

• Livira’s touch, though ghostly, gives Evar a jolt of purpose. It reminds him that she still needs saving, pulling him out of his grief and forcing him to face the approaching skeer. This moment shows that even in death, Livira can influence Evar’s choices and keep him fighting.

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