From Blood and Ash

Hawke asks Penellaphe again how she got out of her chambers. Embarrassed, Penellaphe realizes Hawke does not want to kiss her but is simply trying to extract information. Hawke steals the book from Penellaphe and notices that it’s The Diary of Miss Willa Colyns. Finding it hilarious that Penellaphe is reading such lurid content, he begins to read passages aloud. Their playful fight turns into a conversation about love.

Back in her chambers, Penellaphe and Tawny are preparing for the Rite. Penellaphe is bare faced and wearing a sensual red dress. She reflects on the lack of privilege in her life: “I’d never worn paint on my lips or eyes before. Obviously, it wasn’t allowed for me. Why? My skin was supposed to be as pure as my heart or something” (260-61). Tawny and Penellaphe meet up with Vikter, who relays that Hawke is speaking with the Commander and will join them later at the Rite. Upon walking into the Great Hall Penellaphe takes refuge in feeling like she, “wasn’t the Maiden right now, I was just Poppy” (263). Penellaphe looks up at the dais and observes that the Duke is not yet present.

Agnes, the wife of the man Penellaphe helped die with dignity near the beginning of the novel, approaches the group and asks to speak with Penellaphe privately. She tells Penellaphe she has heard rumors of the Dark One’s presence in the kingdom. Hawke arrives from assisting with security sweeps of the castle.

Once the third and fourth sons and daughters have each been presented to the court, Penellaphe decides she’d like to return to her room. Hawke begins to escort her when they approach the Queen’s Garden, the place Rylan died. Penellaphe releases her powers on Hawke. She feels two separate emotions, one that tastes like lemon and one that is heavy and spicy. She realizes that Hawke is both confused and aroused. Hawke then asks her to sit in the garden with him. When Penellaphe is apprehensive and begins to reminisce on Rylan, Hawke responds that you can’t change a memory you can only, “replace your last memory—the bad one—with a new one—a good one” (275). Penellaphe takes Hawke’s hand.

While in the garden, Hawke tells Penellaphe more about his brother. One day, they traveled to the end of a narrow cavern to find beautiful warm water. Penellaphe wonders where Hawke is from, since such water is not found in the Kingdom Solis. Hawke, while still concealing his brother’s fate, tells Penellaphe that once he lost his brother those caverns became, “a graveyard of memories” (278). Penellaphe transfers her happy thoughts to Hawke to ease his pain.

Penellaphe cannot bring herself to see the night blooming flowers, so Hawke suggests they go to his favorite spot in the garden, the willow tree. They sit under the willow tree, where the branches and leaves are so plentiful no one can see inside. Penellaphe notices that Hawke has exceptional vision in the dark, as he confidently pulls Penellaphe onto his lap. Penellaphe questions Hawke’s intentions and wonders why he acts so intimate with her. She reminds him that he could lose favor with the Duke and face punishment.

For herself, Penellaphe fears the gods may find her unworthy if she partakes in such behavior. Hawke tells Penellaphe that her status doesn’t mean anything to him, all he cares about is who she is on the inside. He tells her she’s just used to men like the Duke and that the Duke is weak. He reassures her that her scars are beautiful. Penellaphe asks him to kiss her. 

Hawke embraces Penellaphe, and the two kiss. She loses control of her gift and cannot tell which emotions are whose. As their feelings intensify, Penellaphe tastes ash. Before they go further, Hawke stops himself and says that he should take her back to her chambers. They encounter Vikter, who has been searching for Penellaphe. Vikter sees they’re holding hands. Vikter tells Hawke he knows exactly what has just occurred. Hawke threatens that if Vikter does not back down, he will be forced to fight him.

Vikter takes Penellaphe’s hand and leads her away. Penellaphe cannot take the lack of autonomy in her life anymore. She loses her temper, exclaiming to Vikter, “That every privilege you have, and Tawny has, and everyone else has, I don’t have. I have nothing” (296). She begins screaming and crying while Vikter watches in silence. Then suddenly, as if unable to control herself, she yells, “It should be no shock that I want to be found unworthy” (297). Immediately she clasps her hands over her mouth. The two leave the garden in silence.

A loud cracking noise sounds from the Great Hall, followed by screams. Knowing Tawny is still inside, Penellaphe rushes to find her. Hanging from the Rite banner is the Duke’s bloodied body, with his red cane shoved through his heart.

Penellaphe notices that the Duke’s manner of death was carried out as if he had been a Craven. Suddenly, windows begin to shatter around the hall, stabbing and cutting everyone inside. Vikter shouts “Protect the Maiden!” instructing everyone to form a mass wall with their bodies around Penellaphe (303). Penellaphe frantically scans the Great Hall for Tawny and Vikter. Once together, the three retreat to a side room with Lord Mazeen and the Duchess. The Duchess asks for a drink and Penellaphe worries they have become sitting ducks.

There is an aggressive bang against the door, and Vikter tells Penellaphe she must defend herself no matter what. She reveals her dagger to the shock and dismay of the Duchess. The door blows off the hinges, and another battle scene unfolds. In an effort to save Penellaphe, the Duchess yells that she is the Maiden, causing the Descenters to hesitate in their attacks. Penellaphe wonders why the Duchess would give away her identity.

After the fighting subsides, Vikter tells Penellaphe he is proud of her. Penellaphe feels a sense of reconciliation with Vikter, just as a sword impales his chest. Penellaphe begs for someone to help, but it’s no use. Vikter apologizes for not protecting her, alluding to her lessons with the Duke and the Lord. Penellaphe holds his hand as she feels it go limp. As she cries, Lord Mazeen patronizingly states that she has crossed another line with her Royal Guard and that her lessons with the Duke have not been at all effective. Filled with rage, Penellaphe yields Vikter’s sword and decapitates Lord Mazeen. She unleashes a fury of stabs onto the Lord’s dead body. Hawke finds the group and restrains Penellaphe.