Hybern sent the Ravens to kidnap Nesta, but then Feyre summoned the monster living in the basement–known around these parts as Donny–to kill them. In return for the monster’s help, Feyre promised to find it a friend. Also, everyone finally realises that Elain is psychic.
A Court of Wings and Ruin Chapters 33:
Everybody is like OMG ELAIN IS A SEER!
She’d known. She’d warned Nesta about the Ravens. And in the chaos of the attack, that little realization had slipped from me. Slipped from me as reality and dream slipped and entwined for Elain. Seer.
I have read that bolded part so many times and I still am marvelled by what a tenuous connection that is. Can you imagine if Feyre was telling us about falling in love with Rhys like: “A leaf fell from a tree the way I had fallen for him.” We’d laugh her out of this book!
Azriel confirms the existence of the sixth queen–the one who the other queens lied about being ill–with Elain. His calm understanding seems to clear her mind. Magically.
But Azriel nodded. “You knew,” he said to Elain. “About the young queen turning into a crone.”
Elain blinked and blinked, eyes clearing again. As if the understanding, our understanding … it freed her from whatever murky realm she’d been in.
Boy, that sure was easy!
Everybody is like OMG THE QUEEN IS ALIVE! I had actually never suspected she was dead. I thought they lied about her being ill because she didn’t want to come, but I guess I was supposed to think she was dead or something. But everyone is like WOAH SHE COULD BE OUR ALLY!!!!!
I whipped my face to Rhys. A potential ally?
I don’t know, he answered. If the others cursed her …
“What sort of curse?” my mate asked before he’d even finished speaking to me.
I don’t get this at all, because Elain said nothing about a curse…she just confirmed the queen was alive. But Elain is like, “YUP SHE WAS TOTES CURSED!” The queen was apparently sold to a “sorcerer-lord” and by day she flies around as a fire bird…and by night she is human.
“I can never see him. What he is. There is an onyx box that he possesses, more vital than anything … save for them. The girls. He keeps other girls—
This guy sounds like a real treat, can’t wait to meet him. OH OH OH! Maybe he can be friends with Donny!!! They seem like they’d be such a good match.
Mor leaned forward. “Do you know why the other queens cursed her— sold her to him?”
Elain studied the table. “No. No— that is all mist and
FURY????
shadow”
🙁
But also how convenient that she knows so much, but is like, “Oops no we gotta figure this one thing out on our own for suspense.”
Even more conveniently she can kind of tell them where the queen is.
“There is … a lake. Deep in— in the continent, I think. Hidden amongst mountains and ancient forests.”
They blather on a bit about the queen’s kingdom and how little they know of it and whether it’s worth looking for her. Finally, Lucien offers to go try to save her and see if she’ll help them. Does that mean all this potentially interesting stuff is going to happen off-screen?
They agree Lucien will leave tomorrow, and after they finish making plans, Rhys and Feyre head to their room. Feyre gives Rhys a bath since he’s covered in blood (why didn’t he just use his cleaning magic earlier? Why did he just stay covered in blood?). He talks about how he needs to protect everyone in the city and how upset he is that Hybern managed to get his lackeys inside of the city.