Two Twisted Crowns

Ravyn wakes up tied to a pole next to the Nightmare, Jespyr, and Petyr in a fort. Two women, Otho and Hesis, sporting bone masks, arrive to question them and identify themselves as the infected that were cast out in the mist. They are openly hostile to Ravyn and Jespyr, as they are Destriers. Ravyn attempts to provide proof that they are not in league with Quercus by mentioning the fort his family had opened to help infected children, but they do not believe him. They want revenge for all the death and violence the infected have experienced at the hands of Destriers, and Hesis breaks Ravyn’s nose. They drag in Gorse, whom they have captured, and Otho blows a magic, alchemized smoke that provokes rage and hate in all their faces. Ravyn and the Nightmare quickly turn on each other, making cutting remarks to one another over losing Elspeth. Soon, Jespyr also comments on Ravyn’s ineptitude as Captain of the Destriers, and the fight devolves as Gorse gets involved. When cut loose, Ravyn kills him. As the rage smoke clears, Opal Hawthorne, Ione’s mother and Elspeth’s aunt, appears. She comes to the Nightmare and quickly realizes Elspeth is not in control of her body.