Chapter 40 – Hunt Down the Skies: Matilda Meets an Ally and an Eithral
⚠️ 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 spends a sleepless night beside Vincent, watching him sleep and feeling a strange tenderness. At dawn, she chooses to walk instead of ride so she can speak with the Wyndrift folk. The children eagerly surround her, asking questions about her home and her moonstone belt. As the caravan travels, an eithral (a wyvern-like creature) soars overhead, causing panic. The beast circles but does not attack—it has already fed. Arrows from a nearby coppice miss the eithral and land among the travelers. The archers belong to Lord Hugh of Delavoy, Vincent’s ally, who has been hunting the rogue creature. Hugh is surprised to see Vincent and even more startled when Matilda introduces herself as Vincent’s wife.
Key Events
- Matilda rises before dawn and joins the perimeter watch, reflecting on her feelings for Vincent.
- She declines a horse and walks the road to interact with the caravan’s people, especially the children.
- The children ask about her home and her moonstones; a boy asserts that her home is with them at Wyndrift.
- An eithral appears: massive, scaled, with bloodstained talons. It circles but does not strike.
- The horses panic, overturning a wagon and scattering provisions. Vincent calms his mount by covering its eyes.
- Arrows from the woods fall short; the archers are revealed to be Lord Hugh’s men.
- Hugh emerges—a worn, perceptive lord—and explains he never received Vincent’s missive.
- Hugh recognizes Matilda as divine before she speaks; she boldly claims to be Vincent’s wife.
Character Development
Matilda shows growing vulnerability: she feels a “cobweb” pull toward Vincent and admits his touch is becoming familiar. Her decision to walk and talk with the people reveals a desire for connection, even as she maintains the deception. The children’s affection unsettles her because she knows she will eventually leave. Her quick thinking and calm during the eithral attack demonstrate her experience with such threats.
Vincent appears protective yet guarded. His expression shifts from softness to inscrutability when Matilda chooses to walk. He yearns for her but hides his sorrow when she engages with the children.
Hugh of Delavoy is introduced as a weathered, perceptive ally. He has been hunting the eithral on his own, suggesting he is resourceful and duty-bound. He immediately senses Matilda’s divine nature, marking him as astute.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Deception and its emotional cost – Matilda lies about being Vincent’s wife for the sake of victory, but she sees how “hopes and joy blaze” in the children and how Vincent looks at her with longing. The narrative questions whether the ends justify the entanglement of mortal hearts.
Belonging and home – The children’s question “Is that below or above?” and the boy’s declaration “Her home is with us!” force Matilda to confront where she truly belongs. Her moonstones symbolize the two realms she straddles.
The hunt – Hugh’s pursuit of the eithral mirrors the larger hunt for allies and survival. The eithral itself represents the lingering chaos from the Underlord Dacre’s broken pact.
Obsidian arrows – The archers’ use of obsidian to wound an eithral shows specialized knowledge of vulnerabilities, hinting at a deeper history of conflict.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter introduces Lord Hugh, a crucial ally whose arrival strengthens Vincent’s cause but also complicates the deception. The eithral sighting raises the stakes by proving that Dacre’s creatures are still active, threatening the fragile peace. For Matilda, the emotional bonds she forms with the Wyndrift people (especially the children) deepen her internal conflict: she is playing a part, yet those around her are investing genuine trust and love. The chapter sets up future tensions between Matilda’s divine role and her growing human attachments.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Matilda choose to walk instead of ride a horse?
She wants the chance to speak with Vincent’s people directly. Walking allows her to build rapport and assess their loyalty, which aligns with her role as the Lady of Wyndrift. It also gives her a moment to distance herself from Vincent and observe his reaction.
2. How does the children’s reaction to Matilda affect her emotionally?
The children’s eager acceptance and their insistence that her home is with them at Wyndrift unsettles Matilda. She knows she will eventually leave, and their hope makes her aware of the emotional debt she is incurring. This reinforces her internal struggle between the mission and her own emerging feelings.
3. What does Hugh’s appearance reveal about the state of the war effort?
Hugh has not received Vincent’s missive, suggesting that communication is unreliable. He has been hunting the eithral on his own, indicating that Dacre’s creatures remain a threat and that local lords are acting independently. His immediate recognition of Matilda’s divinity shows that her reputation is spreading, which could be both an asset and a danger.