Chapter 30: Chapter 26 Summary – The Highblood Plague Begins

⚠️ 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

Medra wakes in Blake’s tower room to find it in shambles: shattered window, overturned furniture, broken mirror. She has no memory of what caused the destruction. Through her psychic bond, Orcades urgently warns her of a “wave of red” – a symbol of approaching danger – and insists she arm herself and find Florence. Medra changes into practical clothing, straps two daggers to her thighs, and prepares.

Blake returns, but his eyes are tinged dark crimson and he is evasive about his whereabouts. Before they can talk, Visha and Theo burst in; Theo is covered in blood (not his own). Visha reports that she killed a First Year highblood, Everett Cavendish, who attacked Theo like a rabid animal. She reveals it is a highblood plague spreading from Sangratha – her own nephew fell victim. The infected become slow, gray-skinned with black veins, and driven to feed.

As the group discusses a plan, Marta, a warden, collapses from a throat wound and dies. Two infected Second Years attack. Visha and Medra kill one; Blake and Theo neutralize the other. The infected are slower than normal highbloods, comparable to blightborn. Blake orders the group to sweep the Drakharrow tower, seal it, and protect the healthy students before attempting to reach Florence or Vaughn. Medra reluctantly agrees but vows to find Florence soon. She notes the strange change in Blake’s eyes, a secret she intends to uncover later.

Key Events

Medra wakes to a trashed tower room with no memory of the cause.
Orcades sends a psychic warning about a “wave of red” danger.
Medra arms herself with daggers and changes into practical clothes.
Blake returns with crimson-tinted eyes, acting tired and secretive.
Visha and Theo report the first infected highblood attack; Everett Cavendish is killed.
Visha reveals a highblood plague has struck Sangratha, affecting even her family.
Marta, a warden, dies from a throat wound at the door.
Two infected highbloods attack; the group kills them after a brief struggle.
The infected are described as slow, with gray skin, black veins, and white eyes.
Blake insists on securing the tower before rescuing others.
Medra notices Blake’s eye color change and decides to press him later.

Character Development

Medra: Becomes more proactive and combative, moving from dreamlike confusion to decisive action. Her bond with Orcades deepens, and she shows fierce loyalty to Florence.
Blake: Hides a physical transformation (crimson eyes) and appears worn out. His protective instincts are strong but his evasiveness raises questions about his involvement in the night’s events.
Visha: Reveals vulnerability when speaking of her infected nephew, yet remains a fierce fighter. Her leadership role solidifies as she shares critical intelligence about the plague.
Theo: Proves his courage despite injury, using a chair leg as a weapon. His first priority remains protecting Vaughn.
Orcades: Shows a rare moment of desperation, begging Medra to take the threat seriously. This hints at the scale of the coming danger.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Plague as Transformation: The highblood plague turns victims into slow, ravenous creatures with black veins and white eyes – a physical corruption that mirrors a loss of self.
Red Motif: The “wave of red” from Orcades, Blake’s crimson eyes, and the bloodshed all link to danger, infection, and hidden change.
Loyalty vs. Authority: Medra’s insistence on rescuing Florence conflicts with Blake’s command to secure the tower first, highlighting tension between personal bonds and group survival.
Secrets and Deception: Blake’s transformed eyes and missing time mirror the hidden spread of the plague; both the disease and Blake’s secret represent threats from within.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 26 marks the turning point when the highblood plague erupts within the academy, shifting the story from political intrigue to survival horror. The attack on the Drakharrow tower forces Medra and her allies into a desperate fight for their lives. Orcades’ urgent warning confirms the plague is a major threat, while Blake’s physical change introduces a personal mystery that will affect Medra’s trust. The chapter sets up the group’s new mission: to protect the uninfected and uncover the truth behind the plague.

Study Questions and Answers

How does Orcades communicate the danger to Medra, and what does her tone reveal?
Orcades sends a psychic message using symbolic language (“a wave of red”). Her tone is unusually desperate and panicked, revealing that the threat is severe enough to shake the normally composed highblood.
What physical symptoms distinguish an infected highblood from a healthy one?
Infected highbloods have gray skin laced with branching black veins, eyes filmed with white, and dried blood around their mouths. They move more slowly than normal highbloods, about the speed of a blightborn, and seem driven only to feed.
Why does Blake prioritize securing the Drakharrow tower over rescuing Florence and Vaughn?
Blake argues that their immediate responsibility is to protect the students in his tower, count the healthy, and quarantine the infected. He believes that spreading out would be too dangerous and that Florence has Kage and her dragon for protection. Medra disagrees but temporarily complies.