Chapter 20: Asar - 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
After hours of torture, Asar extracts the glyph combination needed to enter the mask’s tomb from Gideon. He heals Gideon’s wounds and partially scrambles his memories, then burns his bloodstained clothes. Overwhelmed by shame, Asar wanders the House of Shadow and finds himself in a secluded library atrium with a piano. There, he discovers Mische, who has arrived on her own, dressed only in a bedsheet. They engage in an intense, consensual sexual encounter on the piano, during which Asar commands Mische to hold onto a ladder and never lets her touch him. He pleasures her until she climaxes, using her cries to overwrite the memory of Gideon’s pain. Afterward, they return to their bedchamber. Mische sleeps while Asar stays awake, studying the glyphs and books he took from Gideon. When dawn breaks, they leave the castle without acknowledging Gideon.
Key Events
- Asar finishes extracting the glyphs from Gideon’s mind and heals the physical wounds.
- He changes clothes and burns the evidence, then wanders through Ryvenhaal.
- He finds Mische in a library atrium, standing on a piano in a bedsheet.
- Asar and Mische share an intimate encounter: Asar performs oral sex on Mische, commanding her to hold the ladder while he brings her to climax.
- Asar resists his own desire for full intercourse, pulling away when Mische tries to touch him.
- They return to the bedchamber; Mische sleeps, Asar studies the glyphs.
- The storm passes; they leave without checking on Gideon.
Character Development
Asar: This chapter reveals Asar’s deep internal conflict. He is haunted by the violence he inflicted on Gideon, describing his shame as “smeared all over my face.” His encounter with Mische is an attempt to “paint over” Gideon’s pain with pleasure. He oscillates between commanding control and fearing his own hunger. His refusal to let Mische touch him or to fully consummate their connection shows his belief that he will “ruin” her, a fear rooted in his past.
Mische: Mische demonstrates curiosity and emotional intelligence. She finds the piano room by instinct, calling it “sad” and connecting it to Asar’s childhood. She sees through Asar’s harshness and gently invites him to stay. Despite her vulnerable state (in a bedsheet), she exudes confidence and desire, but also respect for Asar’s boundaries when he stops her.
Gideon: Though absent from the scene, Gideon’s lingering presence—Asar’s memory of his screams—drives the chapter’s emotional tension. He represents the cost of Asar’s mission.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Pleasure as Escape: Asar explicitly uses Mische’s pleasure to “wash away Gideon’s wails.” The act becomes a ritual of cleansing, albeit temporary.
Control and Submission: Asar’s commands (“Hold the bars,” “Scream for me”) give him a sense of agency when he feels powerless against his own past. Mische’s willing obedience becomes an act of trust.
The Piano: The out-of-tune piano symbolizes Asar’s lost childhood and the beauty he once knew. His brief attempt to play a song from Esme’s living room reminds him of a life far removed from the House of Shadow.
Guilt and Shame: Asar’s shame is palpable. He avoids Mische’s gaze initially, and later cannot rest because he keeps reliving what he did to Gideon. The blood imagery—even after changing clothes—persists metaphorically.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 20 deepens Asar’s character by exposing the emotional toll of his actions. It contrasts the brutality of the earlier torture scene with the tenderness and vulnerability of his intimacy with Mische. The chapter also advances the plot by confirming Asar has obtained the glyphs, setting up the next step toward the mask’s tomb. The theme of using pleasure to mask pain recurs later in the story and cements the bond between Asar and Mische.
Study Questions and Answers
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Why does Asar command Mische to hold onto the ladder?
Asar needs to maintain control over the encounter. By keeping Mische’s hands on the ladder, he prevents her from touching him, which would force him to confront his own desire. The command also reinforces his dominant role, allowing him to focus entirely on her pleasure without risking his own loss of control. -
How does the piano function as a symbol in this chapter?
The piano represents Asar’s lost innocence and the beauty of his past. It is “horrifically out of tune,” mirroring how his life has become dissonant. Playing a song from Esme’s living room highlights the contrast between his former self and his present reality. The piano also becomes the stage for their intimacy, transforming a sad place into a space of connection. -
What does Asar mean when he thinks, “I can’t be near you and not—” and then breaks off?
The unfinished thought reveals Asar’s fear that proximity to Mische will unleash his uncontrollable hunger. He believes that being near her will lead to his ruin—or hers. This line encapsulates his internal struggle: he craves her both physically and emotionally, but he is terrified of the damage he might cause.