From Blood and Ash

Penellaphe tries to use her powers on Rylan, but she tastes nothing but ash. A man in a hooded cloak appears and demands that she follow his orders. Just as Vikter instructed her, she unsheathes her dagger and stabs the man in the back. The man yelps in pain, and Penellaphe wonders why his voice sounds inhuman. A whistle alerting the Royal Guards sounds, and the man backs away. Penellaphe thinks back to her conversation with Hawke and concludes that “death had indeed paid an unexpected visit” (103). Duchess Teerman receives word that Penellaphe has been attacked. She tells Penellaphe that she and Rylan had become too comfortable with their night walks. Vikter reveals that the arrow is marked with the Dark One’s promise: “From Blood and Ash. We Shall Rise” (107).

Penellaphe takes a bath to wash the horrible events of the evening away. She studies herself in the mirror, from her green eyes to her oval face. She also studies the many scars left on her body from the Duke’s lessons. Penellaphe reminiscences on her mother’s legacy. She, too, was the Queen’s favorite and was considered a great beauty. The Queen had such love and respect for Penellaphe’s mother that she granted her permission not to Ascend. Penellaphe’s father was not a Lord in Waiting, and he and Penellaphe’s mother married for love. A love, Penellaphe thinks, she will never have. Penellaphe vows that the Dark One will never take her. Tawny comes to check on Penellaphe. She states that The Dark one always seemed more like a myth to her, but now he feels closer than ever. Tawny and Penellaphe wonder if the Queen will petition the gods to hasten the Ascension.

Despite Vikter advising Penellaphe that a Maiden never attends the funeral of a guard, she pays her respects to Rylan anyway. At the funeral, Vikter is told to light the pyre, but he is uneasy to leave Penellaphe alone in such a large crowd. A voice Penellaphe recognizes states that he will watch the Maiden. Penellaphe turns to find herself side by side with Hawke Flynn. After seeing the wound on her jaw, Hawke promises that he will never let anything, or anyone hurt Penellaphe again.

Vikter and Penellaphe are in combat training. Penellaphe asks if Hawke will fill Rylan’s position. Vikter states that, despite his youth, Hawke’s good relationship with Commander Jansen and his advanced skills may get him promoted. Penellaphe worries that Hawke may report her should he remember the night at the Red Pearl.

Penellaphe attends a weekly forum where citizens of the Kingdom Solis ask the Duke and Duchess for special favors. Mr. and Mrs. Tulis approach the dais carrying a baby, and Penellaphe senses their love for one another. They plead with the court to absolve their third son from being given to the Rite. The boy is the only child they have left, the older two sons passing from a disease of the blood. Yet, the Duke and Duchess stand firm in their position and declare that their son “is a gift to the gods, not a gift from them” (130). Penellaphe wonders how a mortal could be so unmoved by the pain of parents who have lost all of their children. Then she remembers, “The Ascended were no longer mortal” (132). While fighting off her powers, the physical pain of a blond man in the crowd breaks through her wall of defense. She tastes acid in the back of her throat and wonders what this may mean. 

After the ceremony, Penellaphe concedes that not all hardship can be blamed on the Descenters. Some of the fault, “could be laid at the feet of the natural order of things” (133). Penellaphe wonders if she could change this “natural order of things.”

Back in her room, Penellaphe and Tawny are interrupted by Vikter, who announces that the Duke and Duchess have summoned them. Inside one of the Duke’s many offices waits the Duke, Duchess, and Hawke. Penellaphe fears Hawke has reported her for visiting the Red Pearl. The Duke’s elitist and vain personality is put on display, specifically when he cannot remember Rylan’s name, pronouncing it “Ryan” numerous times. Royal Guard Hawke Flynn will be Penellaphe’s new personal guard and, as such, is now able to see her unveiled. The Duchess asks Penellaphe to remove her mask.

The Duke and Duchess believe Penellaphe’s hesitation to unveil herself is due to her many scars. The Duke says that one half of her face is beautiful while the other is a nightmare. After unveiling herself, Penellaphe suspects Hawke’s expression to show pity or shock, but instead he proclaims that, “Both halves are as beautiful as the whole” (143). He vows to protect her, using her real name instead of her title in his oath.

Tawny teases Penellaphe for having an attractive guard until Penellaphe finally blurts out that her and Hawke have kissed. Penellaphe relays the entire night at the Red Pearl to Tawny. They both wonder if Hawke has already recognized her.

Penellaphe and Tawny are enjoying afternoon brunch with two other Ladies in Wait, Loren and Dafina, who flirt with Hawke. With the last Rite just a week away, the conversation turns to Prince Casteel. Loren says that it would be exciting if Prince Casteel was in the kingdom. This angers Penellaphe, who breaks her silence. She states how horrible it is that a rebellion in which lives are lost is Loren’s source of entertainment. Embarrassed, Loren and Dafina leave. Hawke tells Penellaphe the Duke has summoned her.

While the two walk, Hawke asks Penellaphe why she and her maid are so disturbed by the Duke’s summoning. Penellaphe exclaims that Tawny is her friend, not her maid. She instantly regrets speaking to Hawke, afraid that he will recognize her voice. Penellaphe enters a large room atop a grand staircase, where she meets the Duke and Lord Mazeen. The Duke smiles and tells Penellaphe that he is very disappointed in her.

The Duke confronts Penellaphe about her aloof behavior during Priestess Analia’s lessons, her sneaking down to the atrium, and her speaking to the Ladies in Wait. Penellaphe wonders how all of this information has reached him so quickly. He reminds Penellaphe that she and Tawny will never be friends or equals; such a relationship is impossible between the Chosen One and a maid. The Duke brings up his disappointment with her behavior during Hawke’s instatement as “Ryan’s” replacement. Penellaphe can no longer control her anger and corrects the Duke that her guard’s name was “Rylan.”

For these outbursts, the Duke decides that four lashes will suffice, but Penellaphe is still angry. She asks the Duke if he really thinks four lashes is enough for her to learn a lesson. The Duke then raises the punishment to seven lashes and proceeds to beat Penellaphe with his red cane while Lord Mazeen watches. He assures her these lessons ensure her commitment to the gods. With each lash of his red cane, the Duke teases Penellaphe about her parents’ death. She tells herself that once she reaches the capital, she will alert the Queen of the Duke’s abuse.