Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 231436 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1157(@200wpm)___ 926(@250wpm)___ 771(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 231436 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1157(@200wpm)___ 926(@250wpm)___ 771(@300wpm)
Instead of joining the group that heads to Iliseeum, Naill chooses to stay in the capital to spend some time with his father. He is, however, present for the dinner meeting afterward where they make a plan for Oak Ambler. He’s put in the group with the King and Queen decoys and is eventually captured by the Ascended.
When Poppy wakes in the woods outside of Oak Ambler after Cas sacrifices himself, Naill bows over a prone Tawny. When they return to speak with Eloana, he stands guard at the door with Hisa and is happy to be part of the group to accompany Poppy back to Oak Ambler to meet with King Jalara.
As they ride to Massene, Naill speaks with Poppy when she feels Arden’s anxiety. He rides ahead with Kieran to investigate and is horrified by what they find on the Rise—all the murdered mortals. Because of that and more, he happily joins in on the fight with the guards. Once some surrender, Poppy orders him to take Arden and stay with the prisoners in the barracks.
Naill leaves with Vonetta and Wren to deliver the ultimatum to Duke and Duchess Ravarel, look for Descenters, and warn the mortals about what will happen if their demands are refused. Once done, they all return to camp.
Poppy sends Naill to secure Vessa in a bedchamber that locks from the outside so she can’t hurt herself or anyone else after the crone attacks her. He does as instructed. Sadly, it doesn’t stop Vessa from using Primal magic and killing many of the draken later.
After the Blood Queen sends her horrific message—Casteel’s ring finger—Naill joins Emil and Vonetta in respectfully dealing with the box’s contents.
Naill rushes to check on Poppy when the storm appears and remarks that it’s the same type of tempest that happened when she Ascended to her godhood. When they go out and witness what is happening with the draken, Naill steadies Poppy and then eventually trails her as she goes to take care of the widow.
When Reaver is talking about Nyktos, Naill remarks that he’s never heard the name Kolis before. Talk shifts to the Rite, and Naill asks if the Chosen had a choice in being Ascended, and Reaver tells him they did—Eythos always let them choose.
Naill makes Poppy something to wear—a white outfit to send a message—and vigilance ramps up as Naill helps to keep an eye on the generals, aware that the Unseen are very much still a threat.
In the Temple, Naill finds another pair of holy people and is the first to reveal that the Priests and Priestesses had Ascended among them, something they hadn’t known before. When Vonetta brings in another Priestess, Naill joins the group that follows her. They come upon a chamber with blood stalactites and bones. After having a ridiculous argument with Emil about the word stalactite, he points out that the hole in the floor is actually a deep well.
Sage is injured, and Naill helps Poppy heal her. When Reaver shifts, it takes Naill by surprise, but not as much as when Sage replies with a “yum” in response to what she sees. Naill reminds her that the draken can breathe fire, but it doesn’t seem to faze her. I get it. I had an absolutely incredible experience with a draken myself, and they are quite delicious.
When Cas returns, Naill waits until all the wolven greet the King before stepping in for a hug. He tells Cas that it hasn’t been right without him and not to leave again. His elation soon turns to shock when he sees Malik.
Everybody fills Poppy and Cas in on what’s been happening with the seizure of the cities, and Naill informs them that the Ascended left a graveyard in Whitebridge and Padonia, just like they did in Pompay. They discuss the Duke of Three Rivers, and Malik mentions knowing him. Naill can’t hold back his ire and sneers at him, asking him how complicated things have gotten and using his princely title. Later, Cas asks him and Emil to keep an eye on Malik, and Naill happily agrees.
In the Blood Forest, while looking for Malec, Naill battles a large group of Craven with the others. When Reaver arrives, he alerts the group to the draken’s appearance. That dealt with, Poppy casts the spell to find Malec, and Naill is surprised by the reaction.
Later, despite being tasked with guarding him, Naill doesn’t realize that Malik isn’t in his chambers but rather speaking with Poppy in the stables.
When they finally get to the Bone Temple, Naill remarks that the Blood Queen brought along some friends. He helps Emil unload Malec and then carries the casket with the other two, commenting on how heavy the god is.
Callum lifts the curse from Kieran with a white blade of some sort, and Naill’s shocked to see the inky mist seeping from the wolven’s wound. I imagine anything having to do with Primal magic is shocking, especially when it’s all so new to them.