Daughter of No Worlds

The next day, Sammerin arrives to rebuke Max for antagonizing the queen. Dismissing the advice, Max takes Tisaanah to a nearby pond where they can both cool off during the early onset of a hot, humid summer. Tisaanah initially protests that she can’t swim but soon learns that she has power over water: “The general rule is that water and air tend to be the domain of the Valtain, while Solarie are more attuned to the more physical elements like fire and earth” (137). Max has some control over water as well, which he demonstrates by conjuring a giant serpent made of mist and steam.

In the city, Max noted that Tisaanah is easily overwhelmed by large crowds. This is because Valtain can sense others’ emotions. He advises her to learn to shield her thoughts the way that other Valtain do. Tisaanah asks Max about the war in which he fought. He explains that a separatist movement in the province of Ryvenai has been fighting for independence; most Solarie come from Ryvenai, accelerating the conflict: “Armies of Wielders hurling all kinds of terrible magic at each other left and right, and not caring who was caught in the crossfire” (143). Max fought on the side of the Orders, as did Sammerin. Queen Sesri witnessed the murder of her father by his best friend; she has been terrified of betrayal ever since. As Max and Tisaanah step out of the pond, Max sees Tisaanah’s whip scars. Appalled, he hopes that the man who inflicted them is dead. Tisaanah replies, “We all have our sad stories” (147).

The next morning, Tisaanah asks to send a letter to Zeryth to find out more about the political situation in Threll after Esmaris’s death. She is worried about her friend Serel. Max cautions her about trusting Zeryth, pointing out that the powerful man never attempted to free Tisaanah while he stayed in Threll. At that moment, Nura arrives with a strange request: Lord Savoi’s son Pathyr refuses to surrender the city of Tairn, so Nura wants Tisaanah and Max to intimidate him. Although Max protests, Tisaanah readily agrees. In return, Nura agrees to ask Zeryth to get Serel to safety.

The forces of the queen assemble outside Tairn. Nura is there with the eyeless Syrizen warriors, who are Solarie Wielders. When the army enters the city, it appears to be empty. However, everyone soon realizes that the defenders are cloaked by Valtain magic, which makes it almost impossible for the queen’s troops to fight them. Tisaanah realizes that if she closes her eyes, she can see the ghostly shapes of the invisible army.

The Syrizen intend to topple the tower, crushing the inhabitants who are hiding beneath it. Instead, Tisaanah proposes to enter Max’s mind to guide his attack. If they fight their way to the top of the tower, they may be able to capture Pathyr and end the conflict. Despite his fear of mind control, Max allows Tisaanah a small window into his thoughts. He shoots flames where she directs. Sammerin uses his abilities to destroy the bodies of enemy soldiers, and the three succeed in reaching Pathyr’s hiding place.

Nura arrives with the Syrizen and uses her own powers to subdue the rebels. Tisaanah realizes that Nura can make a person relive their own worst moments. Simply by standing near Nura, Tisaanah experiences the beating she received from Esmaris. Because her mind is still connected to Max’s, she also feels his trauma during the war eight years earlier. Tisaanah passes out as Nura’s guards kill Pathyr.

The Orders contingent spends hours cleaning up after the battle and healing their own. Exhausted, Max and Tisaanah return to the cottage, but neither can sleep, so they spend the night talking in the garden. Max explains how Nura’s power works: “She drowns people in the worst of their fears. Or usually, worse—the worst of their memories. Like a living nightmare, but more real. It’s…bad” (178-79).

Max now has a visceral understanding of Tisaanah’s final beating at the hands of Esmaris because of their mental connection. She also has gained insight into Max’s past—his parents and six siblings died in the war. Tisaanah grieves most for her family and friends to make sure that their lives are not forgotten. However, Max doesn’t think that he is worthy of carrying on his family’s memories: “And who the hell are we […] to carry something so precious?” (182).

Nura arrives the next morning to find Max and Tisaanah still asleep on the grass. In a letter, Zeryth promises to do everything in his power to help free Serel. After Nura leaves, Max questions Zeryth’s motives: Zeryth is the Arch Commandant of the queen’s forces, which makes Tisaanah wonder why a man with such power would have left her enslaved if he really wanted to help her.