Tower of Dawn
Chapter Sixty-Two
by Maas, Sarah J.The chapter opens with Chaol and Yrene confronting Princess Duva, who is possessed by a Valg demon in a vast underground necropolis. Duva taunts them for taking so long to discover her true nature, revealing her pregnancy as a shield against suspicion. Chaol quickly assesses their dire situation: a Valg-controlled princess, the captive Healer on High, and Yrene as potential targets. Duva coldly presents them with a cruel choice—forcing them to decide who among the three will survive, while tracing a knife over her womb in a menacing display.
Duva reveals her Valg-infested state and recounts how she manipulated events, including the murder of her sister Tumelun, whom she pushed off a balcony to silence her suspicions. She explains how the Valg’s influence began with a hidden Wyrdstone ring gifted by Perrington, which Duva unknowingly accepted during her wedding. The princess mocks their ignorance, emphasizing how her gentle reputation made her the perfect vessel for the Valg’s schemes. Yrene, horrified by the revelations, struggles to contain her rage as Duva relishes her cruelty.
The possessed princess unveils the Valg’s broader agenda: targeting Yrene due to her rare healing powers, which pose a threat to the Dark King Erawan. Duva explains that Maeve, the Fae queen, hoarded healers to protect herself, while renegade Fae in the southern lands cultivated their own defenses. Yrene’s arrival in the Torre marked her as a key player in this ancient conflict, prompting Erawan to send Duva to eliminate her. Chaol realizes the gravity of Yrene’s role—she represents hope against the Valg’s darkness, a truth that terrifies their enemies.
As tension mounts, Yrene demands to know Duva’s ultimate goal, to which the Valg simply replies, “You.” The chapter underscores the high stakes: Yrene’s power could turn the tide against the Valg, but her presence has already brought devastation. Chaol recognizes the weight of their fight—not just for their survival, but for the future of their world. The confrontation leaves Yrene grappling with guilt, while Chaol sees her as a beacon of hope amidst the encroaching darkness. The chapter ends with an unspoken resolve between them, setting the stage for a pivotal struggle.
FAQs
1. What is the significance of the silver ring Duva wears, and how does it relate to her possession by the Valg?
Answer:
The silver ring Duva wears is a clever disguise for a Valg ring containing Wyrdstone, which allowed the Valg to possess her. The ring was hidden beneath the silver band, making it undetectable. Duva explains that she took the ring from a wedding trove sent by Perrington before her sister Hasar could claim it. Once she spoke her marriage vows, the ring was placed on her finger, and the Valg took control without anyone noticing. This reveals how the Valg infiltrated the royal family through seemingly innocent objects, demonstrating their cunning and the vulnerability of even protected figures like princesses.
2. How does the chapter reveal the historical connection between the Torre healers and the ancient Fae?
Answer:
The chapter reveals that the Torre healers descend from Fae healers who fled Doranelle to escape Maeve’s control. These renegade Fae intentionally spread their healing magic in the southern lands to create a defense against the Valg’s return. Duva explains that Maeve hoarded healers in Doranelle to protect herself, while the escaped Fae “bred the magic into the land” to ensure future generations could resist Erawan. This historical context underscores the Torre’s importance as a legacy of ancient Fae foresight and highlights why Yrene’s powers pose such a threat to the Valg.
3. Analyze the symbolic contrast between the necropolis setting and Yrene’s role as a healer.
Answer:
The necropolis, filled with gold and sarcophagi, symbolizes death, hidden history, and the Valg’s corruption. In contrast, Yrene represents healing, hope, and life—the antithesis of the Valg’s influence. The setting emphasizes the stakes of their confrontation: Yrene’s power to “wipe out” the Valg clashes with the darkness festering in the tombs. This contrast also reflects the chapter’s broader theme of hidden legacies (the Fae healers’ secret mission) versus visible threats (Duva’s possession), reinforcing why Yrene’s abilities are so pivotal in the fight against Erawan.
4. Why does Duva target Yrene specifically, and what does this reveal about Erawan’s fears?
Answer:
Duva targets Yrene because Erawan fears her healing gifts, which can destroy Valg parasites. The chapter reveals that Erawan systematically purged gifted healers in the north but missed Yrene, who escaped to the Torre. Duva’s monologue explains that Maeve guarded her healers for similar reasons, implying Yrene’s power is a rare threat to the Valg’s survival. This pursuit underscores Erawan’s vulnerability: Yrene embodies hope not just through her magic but as proof that his efforts to eradicate resistance have failed, making her elimination a priority.
5. How does the chapter use Tumelun’s murder to develop Duva’s character and the Valg’s tactics?
Answer:
Duva’s confession to murdering Tumelun reveals the Valg’s manipulative tactics and her own cruelty. Tumelun suspected Duva’s corruption, so the Valg-controlled princess pushed her off a balcony, framing it as a “moody” suicide. This act demonstrates how the Valg exploit their hosts’ reputations (Duva’s gentleness) to conceal violence. It also highlights their strategic elimination of threats—Tumelun’s death silenced her suspicions, just as Duva’s possession neutralized a potential heir. The murder personalizes the Valg’s menace, showing their willingness to destroy even innocent family members to maintain control.
Quotes
1. ““Because I see you calculating, Lord Westfall, I’ll spare you the trouble and lay out your options for you. See, you’ll have to pick. Me, the Healer on High, or Yrene Towers.””
This chilling ultimatum from the Valg-possessed Princess Duva represents a pivotal moment of confrontation, showcasing the villain’s cruel manipulation and the impossible choice forced upon Chaol and Yrene. It highlights the chapter’s tension and the psychological warfare employed by the antagonist.
2. ““The Dark King heard whispers. Whispers that a healer blessed with Silba’s gifts had entered the Torre. And it made him so very, very wary.””
This revelation explains the Valg’s interest in Yrene, tying her healing powers to a larger historical conflict between the forces of darkness and light. It introduces the chapter’s central theme about the strategic importance of healers in this world’s power struggles.
3. ““How clever those Fae were, who escaped her clutches after the last war. They ran all the way here—the healers who knew their queen would keep them penned up like animals.””
This quote provides crucial backstory about the origins of the Torre’s healing magic and its connection to ancient Fae rebels. It expands the chapter’s worldbuilding by revealing how healers became weapons in a centuries-old conflict between Maeve and Erawan.
4. “Because Yrene, ripe with power and facing down that preening Valg demon … Hope. It was hope that stood beside him, hidden and protected.””
This powerful conclusion reveals Chaol’s realization about Yrene’s true significance - not just as a healer but as a symbol of hope against the Valg. It encapsulates the chapter’s emotional climax and thematic message about resistance against darkness.