Chapter 17: A Shield for the Hounds—Matilda
⚠️ 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
Matilda cradles her dying mother Zenia, killed by Phelyra with an eithral arrow. Phelyra coldly explains she acted to protect herself and flees, leaving the arrow behind. Matilda retrieves the arrow and hides it, then runs to the forge seeking Bade. Bade and his assistant Hem prepare weapons and provisions. Adria packs food and wine. Matilda briefly considers fleeing to her mortal friend Vincent, but Bade’s pragmatic questions make her realize that is not a safe option. Bade then urges her to go Skyward to her father Thile, the god of dusk. Zenia had broken her vow by speaking Thile’s name, summoning his magic. Bade and Matilda flee through the Underworld corridors, pursued by hounds and Dacre. Bade sacrifices himself at a crossroads to hold off the hounds, ordering Matilda to keep running. Alva chases her, claiming she gave Vincent to Matilda to earn her trust, but Matilda rejects the manipulation and escapes through the Dark Lake Door into the mortal realm.
Key Events
- Phelyra murders Zenia with an eithral arrow and flees.
- Matilda takes the arrow and runs to Bade’s forge.
- Bade and Adria prepare supplies for Matilda’s escape.
- Bade advises Matilda to seek refuge in Skyward with her father Thile.
- The boiling rill and warming stones signal Thile’s power.
- Bade and Matilda are pursued by hounds and confronted by Dacre.
- Bade stalls the hounds at a crossroads, allowing Matilda to continue.
- Alva pursues Matilda, claiming she gave Vincent to her.
- Matilda escapes through the Dark Lake Door into the mortal realm.
Character Development
- Matilda transforms from a grieving daughter into a fugitive forced to rely on her own instincts. Her trust is broken by Phelyra’s betrayal and tested by Alva’s manipulation. She chooses to follow Bade’s final order rather than surrender.
- Bade shows his protective nature, sacrificing himself despite his earlier reluctance. His gruff tone masks deep concern, and his final act solidifies his role as a guardian.
- Alva reveals a calculating side, admitting she used Vincent to influence Matilda. Her desperation to stop Matilda from leaving exposes her self-interest.
- Adria briefly appears as a source of comfort, offering a benediction that strengthens Matilda’s resolve.
Themes, Symbols, and Motifs
- Betrayal and Trust: Phelyra murders her ally Zenia, and Alva attempts to manipulate Matilda through past favors. The chapter questions whom Matilda can trust.
- Sacrifice: Bade gives his life—or at least his safety—so Matilda can flee. His selflessness contrasts with Phelyra’s selfishness.
- Thresholds and Boundaries: Matilda crosses from the Underworld to the mortal realm, and Bade urges her to seek Skyward. The doors represent transitions between danger and potential safety.
- Eithral Scales: The weapon used to kill Zenia symbolizes the imbalance of power and the black market trade that shattered alliances.
- Heat and Boiling Water: The rising temperature and boiling rill physically manifest Thile’s search for Zenia, linking the divine realm to the Underworld.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is a turning point in Matilda’s arc. Her mother’s death forces her to flee the only home she knows, severing her ties with the Underworld. Bade’s sacrifice removes her primary protector, leaving her alone. The decision to go Skyward—to a father who might want to kill her—sets up a new conflict and a major shift in setting. The revelation that Alva staged her connection to Vincent deepens the theme of betrayal and raises the stakes for Matilda’s future trust.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Bade insist that Matilda go Skyward rather than to Vincent’s fortress?
Bade argues that Vincent lacks the army, fortified walls, and siege provisions needed to hold off Dacre’s hounds and eithrals. He believes only a god—Thile—can offer real protection, even though Thile may be hostile.
2. How does Alva try to stop Matilda, and why does her tactic fail?
Alva claims she gave Vincent to Matilda as a gift to earn her trust. She tries to guilt Matilda into staying and answering questions about Zenia’s bartering. Matilda sees this as treating Vincent like a pawn, which angers her and confirms Alva’s manipulation, so she flees.
3. What does the boiling rill and the warm stone walls signify in this chapter?
The unnatural heat indicates that Thile, god of summer and dusk, is actively seeking Zenia after she spoke his name. It shows that Zenia broke her vow to summon him, and his power reaches even into the Underworld’s depths.