A Day of Fallen Night

Glorian brings her people to the city of Arondine to hide them in the area's many caves. However, she is quickly summoned to Glowan Castle by Lady Gladwin, where she learns of Lord Robart’s scheme and thus imprisons him. She names her grandmother, Lady Marian, as her new regent, and despite learning that Prince Guma is aligned with Lord Robart’s scheme, plans to uphold the marriage and blackmail Prince Guma for his aid in defeating Fyredel. Glorian and Wulf enter a handfast—a secret, one-year marriage—in which they will try to conceive a child.

Dumai arrives at the mountain and begins searching for the astronomer, finding a door at the peak. Furtia brings Nikeya to the ground and inside, Dumai and Kanifa find the astronomer, Tonra, dead but completely preserved. They find mention of the star and a powerful stone in her papers. Dumai finds the stone in the hands of Tonra, but with the dragons gone, Kanifa and Dumai must climb back down. They slip, and Kanifa cuts the rope between them, sacrificing himself for Dumai. As she begins to lose consciousness, Dumai hears a voice telling her to find the light. She summons a light from her hand, helping Nikeya and Furtia find her.

Tuva and Canthe reach Yscalin and help Prince Guma fight his way through wyrms to Inys. In Inys, Lady Marian arrives and immediately recognizes Glorian’s relationship with Wulf. She doesn’t disapprove but warns Glorian that she must send Wulf away with Prince Guma arriving, even if no child is conceived.

Dumai returns to Antuma Palace in Seiiki, where Unora and the Empress identify the stone. It is a mythical artifact that is said to command the waters and wind. Dumai can feel the power in it.

Tuva and Canthe arrive in Arondine and Canthe goes to find Wulf, returning with news of his survival at sea. This confirms to Tuva that he is her son, as his survival in the frigid waters off Hróth means that he possesses siden. In her moment of vulnerability, Canthe kisses her, and though Tuva initially kisses back, she stops it.

In the night, Glorian is visited by an image of her mother, who informs her that a coming star will defeat the wyrms, but that Glorian must connect her to Dumai, while keeping the connection secret.

Back at court, Dumai and Nikeya avoid each other, though Dumai finds she misses her. Dumai has a dream conversation with someone she believes is Glorian, who tells her that she has the match to Dumai’s stone. Dumai prepares to find her. Dumai attempts to leave in secret, but Nikeya insists on joining her.

Canthe receives information that Wulf is going North, and Tuva insists they follow him. His departure is spurred on by the arrival of Prince Guma, who, on their first night together, assures Glorian that he does not wish to have a child with her. He will not reveal her secret. As he takes the bed and she takes the floor, she realizes that she is pregnant with her daughter.

Back in the Hróthi capital of Bithandun, Thrit and Wulf fight to protect the city alongside Einlek. Einlek gives them the task of traveling to a northern outpost to retrieve the rest of their lith and any remaining soldiers. Einlek also informs Wulf of a letter he received from Glorian thanking Wulf for his help, thus confirming that she is pregnant. He and Thrit depart the next morning just as Tuva’s arrives.

Canthe discovers that they barely missed Wulf but assures Tuva that she knows where he is going.

As Fyredel’s return draws near and Glorian’s pregnancy becomes more apparent, she cuts her hair to remind herself of her own independence before going to the Virtues Council and informing them that it is time to descend into the caves and mines. That night, she ventures out to a nearby lookout and watches as Fyredel burns Arondine to the ground.

Dumai does her best to keep her defenses up in the face of Nikeya’s charm as they travel West. She continues to hear from Glorian but is warned by Furtia that it may not be who she thinks it is. When a spear hits Furtia from a watch tower, Dumai and Nikeya are thrown off and lose sight of the dragon. Helpless, they seek safety in a cave and while sheltering, Nikeya demands to know why Dumai can’t trust her.

As Thrit and Wulf reach the outskirts of the outpost, Nikeya admits to Dumai that her father initially tasked her with seducing Dumai but insists that she truly loves her. They kiss, and Dumai opens up to Nikeya about her feelings for women.

Dumai hears her dream companion and leaves the cave, seeing twin peaks in the distance that match a vision from her dreams. They begin walking towards it, crossing a glacier to reach an outpost. As they near the buildings, they find the bodies of plague victims and are charged by a survivor.

Wulf and Thrit reach the outpost and see Karlsten attacking Dumai and Nikeya. He wounds Dumai and turns his attention to Wulf, telling him that he killed everyone at the outpost because of the outbreak. Furtia returns and is attacked by Karlsten, who is crushed by the dragon.

Tuva and Canthe arrive to see the death of the Karlsten, and Tuva engages Furtia. As they fight, Canthe rushes to Dumai, asking for the stone and admitting that it was her speaking to Dumai. She is flung away by Furtia, who collects Dumai and flees. In the aftermath of the struggle, Tuva pulls Wulf from a crevice in the glacier, taking her first look at him since he was a baby. She calls him Armul.

Glorian is crowned in the ruins of Arondine and rallies her people with the announcement of her pregnancy.

Canthe explains who Tuva is to Wulf, and he agrees to follow them South to find answers about his mysterious childhood. While taking Tuva in, he remembers her face. He remembers the feeling of her love.

Elsewhere, Dumai and Nikeya stop fleeing to remove the spear from Furtia and discuss the purpose of the stone. Furtia recognizes the stone and hints of its immense power and connection to the dragons.

Wulf and Thrit say their goodbyes, and Wulf will not explain where he is going. After arguing, Thrit agrees to go to Inys to protect Glorian, where he expects to find Wulf. Before they depart, Thrit kisses Wulf, explaining his feelings and his regret at not expressing them sooner. Wulf, stunned, watches Thrit leave longingly.

On the journey back to the Priory, Tuva finds herself and Meren in Wulf’s face. She tries her best to learn as much Inysh as she can in order to converse with Wulf.

On their journey back, Dumai and Nikeya refuse to speak to each other. The stone is healing Furtia, but it has driven a wedge between them. As they near Seiiki, Dumai hears the real Glorian in her mind, but distrusting the voice, she shuts her out. Upon their arrival, they find the capital on fire and the wyrms attacking it.

Dumai storms into the court to find Suzumai on the throne, as the River Lord replaced her father after he supposedly succumbed to the plague. Dumai, wishing to fight for Seiiki rather than a throne, announces that she will make her own court elsewhere and fight to protect the people. On her way out, she apologizes to Nikeya and asks her to come with her, but Nikeya refuses.

At the Priory, Tuva sees recognition in Wulf’s eyes. They meet Siyu, and Tuva notices how much battle changed her while she was away. Tuva finds Esbar, and all is forgiven as Esbar and Tuva recommit to each other.

On Mount Ipyeda, Dumai’s grandmother approves of her proposed rival court. The Empress wonders if the Noziken are meant to continue ruling. She tells Dumai that she does not expect her to have an heir but does expect her to be the person she is meant to be, no matter the implications it has for their dynasty.