(Note: what follows does not even approach chonological order)

Now that Briony controls the majority of her castle, she goes after Hendon Tolly with several of Eneas's men. They find him in her family's crypt. The man about to sacrifice Alessandros (in order for his God's blood to be smeared on Chaven's mirror as a sacrifice to Zoria) is quickly shot in the chest with an arrow. While Briony engages in a losing fight with the more well practiced Hendon, a ghastly figure appears at the door.

Going back to the man with Alessandros, Tinwright was being forced to do so by Hendon. The regent of Southmarch had captured his love, Elan M'Cory, and was threatening the both of them.

Evidently, Shaso really was dead all along (it was my own assumption that he was alive). Instead, the crippled man was Gailon Tolly, Hendon's older brother, who was "killed" mid-way through book one (in a grab for power by Hendon). He had laid in his hidden grave (he wasn't immediately "known" to be "dead") for days before realizing that he was actually still alive. Despite the numerous arrow wounds and other ailments, he set out to warn the Eddons of his brother's treachery. Clearly too late, he now wishes to help kill Hendon However, Gailon is simply stabbed in the chest by said brother.

Hendon then runs off into a dark corner of the crypt. Following him, Briony discovers a large crack in the wall leading into a cave. Seeing a large chasm to the side, she stops to think. Hendon drops down from the ceiling, and Briony manages to stab him in the chest and eye. As Hendon tries to take her with him into the chasm, she is saved by Chert, who has finished his business with his own plans. She then starts her way down the cave, knowing that it leads to the Shining Man in the depths, despite Chert's warnings that she would be killed.


Despite having successfully stood against the Xixies with the help of the Qar, Ferras and the Funderlings are dismayed to learn that it was all in vain; the autarch found an alternate way to the Depths. They fight their way down to the Sea in the Depths (the Shining Man being on an island in a sea of his own silver blood), in time to see Sulepis summon the god.

The autarch sacrifices dozens of children, spilling their blood into the sea before beginning the ritual. He then reads a ritual summoning, binding the god with his many names: Kernios, Xergal, the Stonelord. He offers Olin as the god's physical body (which puts Olin through extreme pain, and Qinnitan through only a little less).

To his chagrin, it was not Kernios that he had summoned, rather, it was that god's son; the trickster, the god of fire and poetry; Lok-- er, that's not right --Zosim (that's it!). Chaven appears, having been the god's half-willing slave the entire time. When he joined the Godstone with the Shining Man (completing the whole; the Godstone had broken off centuries earlier), he would manifest as he wished.

Chaven is promptly dispatched with by Vo. Both the god and autarch try to bargain with him, and he eventually joins the Godstone and Shining Man. With this, a firey form arises out of the void that was once the Shining Man. Described as looking light a beautiful young man made of white flame, with a cloak of fire, he promptly eats Vo and tears the autarch's limbs off before using him a a crest for his helmet (Sulepis now being on fire and still very much alive).

Yasammez, daughter of Crooked, who originally sealed away Zosim, and wielder of Whitefire, the sword of Zmeos (called the Great Enemy by the people of Eion and venerated as Nushash, god of fire, on the continent of Xan), challenges him. Growing to large size herself, though clearly pushing past her limits, she fades rapidly.

Back during the ritual, we followed Beetledown the Bowman, a Rooftopper (who we have seen several times during the series). It was he who obtained the Astion and ensured that Chert's plan would come to fruition, [possibly] losing his life in the explosion.

Shortly before the ritual, Barrick and Vansen attempted to prevent the summoning and save Olin and Qinnitan by fighting their way to the autarch. Having failed and been forced to watch the ritual, they climb into one of the reed boats that the autarch used to get to the island (Barrick having received warning to do so from the Fireflower).

Shifting back to the god; it was never Yasammez's plan to kill Zosim. Her intention was actually to stall him.

As Chert's explosives go off, a great roaring is heard. What better way to combat Zosim, the lord of fire, than with the power of Erivor, lord of the waters? (Did I mention that Southmarch castle is on an island? No? Well, there it is.) As the water rushes in, Barrick and Vansen struggle to hold onto the boat while keeping hold of Olin and Qinnitan's limp bodies; everything else is drowned.

Rejoining Briony, she finds Willow (who had been lost behind the Shadowline for a time; an event that tends to drive people mad) and Kayyin (who spent some time with humans, and especially Willow) under attack by elementals. She and Chert try to help, but are unable to prevent the elementals from taking back the Fever Egg (now enhanced to be able to wipe out all life on the planet over several years).

To prevent it from being broken, Kayyin (who had more face time in the three previous books) grabs onto the "feet" of the elemental about to smash it to the ground. Now over the pit leading to the Shining Man, Willow holds onto Kayyin, dragging all three down into the rising waters.

Briony watches as the waters begin to rise up the pit. On the top of the waters are Barrick, Vansen, Olin, and Qinnitan in their boat.

Vash has been conspicuously absent throughout this section.

Now, my opinion:

I'd say that this is a pretty good climax; perhaps not the twist I was expecting (though there is 100 pages and plenty room for something to happen), but good none-the-less.

To Ms. Washburn, this is what I wanted when I complained about Dracula's lack of an epilogue; Shadowheart is going to devote a seventh of the book to the aftermath of the climax and character developement. That sort of thing is what makes a story "come alive" for me.

Also, an interesting fact.

I hear that over 99% of murderers in the U.K. have used the substance Dihydrogen Monoxide.