bone

on page 83 (Dark Rise) we see Justice talk to the horse in a 'strange language':

"Run, as your ancestors ran. Do not fear the darkness. You have greatness within you, as do all your kind."

His words, in this strange language, are written in italics. Now fast forward to page 84, where Will says:

"Run!" he called out to it. "Run!"

His words were snatched away by the wind, but he felt his horse respond and gather itself beneath him, felt its stride stretch out longer.

It’s like Valdithar is waking up here and if Will spoke the old language it would totally make sense that he’s responding to that. And not too long after, Will yells “Up!” twice, neither of which is in italics.

Plus, when Will names him:

“Valdithar,” Will said, and the horse tossed his head and seemed to respond to the name. “It means dauntless.” The word from the language of the old world came to him instinctively.

Valdithar. The black horse seemed to grow taller, as if the name had made him more himself.

It makes me ridiculously emotional thinking about Sarcean wanting Valdithar with him in the future, and it’s like their closeness brings them back to some part of their past selves in these scenes.

I just imagine Sarcean hanging out in the stables brushing Valdithar like Will does and having the same appreciation for the Steward horse but “secretly preferring Valdithar’s powerful earthy gallop.”

it makes me sad to think he had to kill his horse to do so :( I will simply not think about it thank you very much

Realizing Part 1 (Anharion's Execution, Visander's Death, and Ekthalion's Corruption) was the Death Edition... yikes.

4. Sinclair, James, and the Collar

Sinclair shows "amusement and pleasure" when he’s berating James and about to punish him with the Collar, and James imagines Sinclair sitting on his wingback chair back home in London.

I realized that felt uncomfortably similar to the Sun King looking "amused" as he sits on his throne and taunts Sarcean before punishing him with the oubliette.

Add in the fact that James is also thinking about how he used to sit at Sinclair’s feet while he was in that wingback… I feel queasy (and can’t help but wonder if the gold chain at the base of the throne was actually from TSK’s reign.)

I went into this re-read already agreeing with the theory that Sinclair is connected to the Sun King (definitely not a Returner but I flip-flop on Reborn vs descendant) and that they’re the main villains, and that simple "oh shit, look at that parallel!" moment got me.

What I had never considered before though was that IF Sinclair and TSK are connected and Sinclair can scry like in this scene... then could TSK?

Which leads into #5...

5. Eyes of Black Flame

The repetition of Will seeing his mother’s eyes in the Lady and Katherine—and the way we assume that means warmth, love, strength until we’re hit on the head with hatred and attempted murder—made me wildly suspicious of eyes during this re-read.

In particular, the three scenes in DR where Will has vague ass visions and is terrified of "eyes of black flame."

I always took that as Will being afraid of his past self—which is still the most likely scenario, I’ll admit.

We finally get to see these eyes in DH when Will uses the brand for the first time and looks out through Howell’s eyes:

"Those black eyes blazed down at him, burning just as he’d seen them in dreams."

Ok, not "eyes of black flame" exactly, but blazing and burning are close enough I guess… though every other time it’s described the exact same way, so this disctinction feels intentional.

My "wait, that's kinda weird" moment was when I realized how odd it would be for Will to perceive Sarcean/himself in that way.

Will only sees his blackened eyes because this first experiment meant he just so happened to be facing himself. But Will learns he can simply drawn the brand, and Sarcean did this alone with only Anharion to protect him, the same as Sinclair home alone in London.

And yet "eyes of black flame" that he wouldn't actually be all that familiar with are THE defining characteristic that keeps appearing in visions? I mean, works for drama and creepiness, that's for sure.

What really piqued my interest is that the fourth and final time we get "eyes of black flame" (once again the exact phrasing) comes from James right after Sinclair collars him:

"He saw a man with piercing eyes of black flame and long black hair."

Truthfully, I still don’t know what to make of all the visions that hit James once the Collar is on. The disjointed "try to run" memory is embedded here, something that Pacat intentionally made to sound like Sarcean when it was really Anharion, so I feel like there’s a lot going on that we won’t understand until book 3.

Skipping over that today, because I'm more interested in the way this muddled memory is sandwiched between scenes of Sinclair being an evil ass.

If Will's eyes "turned completely black, as though his pupils had engulfed both irises and whites" when he's scrying, then is that the case for Sinclair as well? Probably, right?

We know Will has dark eyes (in a 100% puppy dog kind of way), but this is specifically calling out pupils, not those dark irises. (Speaking of appearances, though we don't know what TSK or Sinclair look like, both Simon and Phillip have dark hair.)

SO, if we're all correct on the whole Sinclair/Sun King connection, it's not a wild stretch to think that TSK could have this scrying ability same as Sinclair. Meaning his eyes probably also turned fully black.

We know Sarcean handles dark tasks for TSK, but what if some of those victories "won in the dark" were accomplished similar to Sinclair possessing people to murder and carry out all sorts of shady stuff?

What if Sarcean and/or Anharion saw TSK scrying—maybe they already knew, maybe they didn't—and those "eyes of black flame" actually belong to him?

6. Pale Crown

Going down my rabbit hole of Sinclair + TSK, I'd be remiss if I skipped the mention of the "pale crown" that accompanies two of Will's "eyes of black flame" moments.

In total, there are five references to the pale crown that is bringing darkness and death, consuming everything.

I kept an eye out for any crown related things, but really all that stood out was when Violet sees the drawing of the Dark King:

"dark horns—or was it a dark halo?"

And then I noticed the possible abstract crown reference hidden in plain sight:

"First rode the Sun King, a Helios on a chariot, with a gold mask covering his face, in his hand the royal scepter with the sun’s rays coruscating from it."

I was always focused on the gold mask and scepter before. But that Helios reference... you mean... like this guy?

The dude always depicted with a ring of light around his head that might appear to be a pale crown if it was in the midst of shadows?

So I want to call out one of the meatier pale crown + eyes of black flame references from when Will touches the Shadow Stone:

"He saw a vision of the four empty thrones of the Hall, but there were four resplendent figures sitting in them, great kings in bright, shining robes. But as he watched, three started to change, their faces sloughing off, their bones turning transparent, until they were horrific shadow versions of themselves. And then he saw a figure rising above them all, with a pale crown and eyes of black flame—"

Who else calls bullshit on the Sun King denying the Cup and fleeing? (I'm raising both hands.) Let's just say "the Sun King came up with the Cup ruse" is one of the new TSK theories on my book 3 bingo card.

1. Anharion's Execution

We know Gauthier (and everyone else) is misinformed re: the Collar, so what about Anharion’s execution?

As Gauthier tells it, at the execution “James knelt and bared his throat for the stroke.”

The story is a bit contradictory though. Rathorn's job would have been full decapitation… also likely an unfortunate necessity with Anharion’s healing abilities. So why was the sawing necessary?

That alone I could brush off as the ramblings of a crazy old man. But wait! I have an even bigger issue with this story. Right before that, we get this description:

“the gold of [the Collar's] rim was high enough to force a chin up"

This choker is BIG, y'all. It covers the entire neck. So… where was Rathorn aiming for that stroke? At the single centimeter between the rim and chin? Dude has some awesome aim. 10/10, let’s get him a ribbon.

OR was Anharion’s throat bared as in exposed? Is this story actually hinting that the Collar isn't a permanent fixture once it's on, and that perhaps Anharion might even have control to take it off?

This opens up so many possibilities... and so many more questions.

2. Visander's Death

I never realized that Visander gives us two different accounts of his death:

The Lady touches his head in one memory but his face in the other. She says “have to die” then “must die.” Visander is stabbed in the chest in one then the abdomen in another.

It’s all so subtle, and if it had just been one then whatever... but all three? Especially that last one of where she stabbed him?

Something is going on here. Can it just be chalked up to this death happening suddenly or is it something deeper? Can we trust the account or memories of anyone at all? Because it’s starting to feel like the answer is no.

3. Ekthalion's Corruption

I didn’t realize until this re-read that Ekthalion’s corruption had to have happened after the Lady killed Visander.

And, since I obviously didn't know Visander was going to happen the first time I read DR, I also glossed over this correction in the tale:

What we’re told by the Stewards: “The Sword of the Champion bestows the power of the Champion”

The “true wording” when Will reads it: “He who wields the blade will become the Champion.”

That made me do a sad "oh... oh shit" because poor fucking Katherine. It wasn't some inspirational tale. It was literal. And the Lady would know/be responsible for the magic to sacrifice her own line as a vessel. Makes the “so I will have a child” even more haunting.

It also made me re-question the story about the single drop of Sarcean’s blood.

That always sounded… unbelievable? Made up? You're telling me some non-Visander champion took it into battle, cut Sarcean just a little, then got away while it was spewing black flames until they made a sheath?

To me it’s more plausible that the Lady intentionally corrupted the blade in order to form the mechanism to put her Champion in her descendant. Basically chaining or anchoring it all together.

Once again, poor Katherine. She deserved better than to be used as a pawn because the Lady was so desperate to get revenge and feel like she was the one killing Sarcean.

-----------------------

they don't know what happened at the gate, the end of Dark Heir. they don't know who collared James. Are they gonna assume it's Will?

It sucks for him, because as far as he could tell his choices were:

Run away from everyone and attempt to work alone. He kind of tried that. It didn't work out so great. He almost died.

Run away from everyone and everything and pretend nothing is happening. We know he'd just be chased and so does he.

Run away with just James (while lying about who he really was) and try to beat Sinclair that way. If he had done this, Violet and Cyprian would never have let it stand. They would assume James kidnapped him or was somehow controlling him. They would absolutely have followed and attempted some rescue, which would have distracted them all from what needed to be done. This very likely would have just gotten Violet, Cyprian, and Elizabeth killed by Sinclair. Also, Will promised his mother he would protect his sisters and we know Will always keeps his promises (or does everything in his power to do so).

Tell everyone the truth and most likely be killed by the people he loves and all the horrible shit would still happen anyway.

Stay with everyone but lie/hide who he is. This would allow them to work as a group to stop Sinclair. It would also mean he could watch over and protect Elizabeth and the other people he loved.

He tried, tried so hard, evaded everything and everyone, did half alone, so he could stay friends and hide who is is, while still trying to gain more knowledge of the Dark King. Of a past self.

He could've tried to lie. But with all the evidence piled against him? Touching the dark artifacts which have no visible effect on him (they don't know where to look, and Will is good at hiding). That one black stone of which I've conveniently forgotten the name, which held the shadow kings. I wonder how he would've talked his way out of that one, realisations must've come and come. Don't get me started on Visander (being there, specifically)

And they "know" the one who puts on the collar controls James. (Now this isn't the case, but do they know that? No. Would they listen to reason? No. It's just more proof piled on he's bad. He's evil.) And Will does (control him).

(If we go with the assumption that's what the collar does. It's very typically unclear and i yearn to know more)

The truth is, that there was likely never a way Will was going to get what he had hopped for, and that hurts so much. He just wants so bad to be good and (just as importantly) to be seen as good. And to be loved! To be seen as Will. Everything he is, everything he may have once been (even if he doesn't remember it), and everything he is trying to be and still be loved anyways. It is so heartbreaking.

Instead, he's not seen at all. By anyone who matters to him. He disappears as a person and becomes nothing more than an idea they need to snuff out.

I think that once they realize James is collared (cause right now they have no idea) they will totally think Will did it, and that will further "prove" that they are right.

Though, Dark Heir does give us some hope regarding Violet. There is this line, in Chapter 50, from Violet's POV:

It gave me so much hope. Once they so some reflecting (hopefully, eventually)

On that same note, when Will said this on page 463 to Cyprian:

So you can take a shadow, you can pledge yourself to darkness, but I can't be trusted with my own power, even when I want to do what's right?

I feel he'll be thinking about that too.

But Cyprian isn't speaking to Will, he's speaking to the Dark King, to Sarcean, in a way. Like you said, he's an idea, a used to be concept now made real, the one thing they've been brainwashed (and yes I mean that) their entire lives to fight, to kill, to end and destroy.

There is no more Will. No more friend.

page 40, Violet's pov, they're on Simon's ship and the blade (Ekthalion) has been unsheathed. There's this line:

Her first instinct had been to save her brother. Will's had been to save everyone.

they don't know what happened at the gate, the end of Dark Heir. they don't know who collared James. Are they gonna assume it's Will?

It sucks for him, because as far as he could tell his choices were:

Run away from everyone and attempt to work alone. He kind of tried that. It didn't work out so great. He almost died.

Run away from everyone and everything and pretend nothing is happening. We know he'd just be chased and so does he.

Run away with just James (while lying about who he really was) and try to beat Sinclair that way. If he had done this, Violet and Cyprian would never have let it stand. They would assume James kidnapped him or was somehow controlling him. They would absolutely have followed and attempted some rescue, which would have distracted them all from what needed to be done. This very likely would have just gotten Violet, Cyprian, and Elizabeth killed by Sinclair. Also, Will promised his mother he would protect his sisters and we know Will always keeps his promises (or does everything in his power to do so).

Tell everyone the truth and most likely be killed by the people he loves and all the horrible shit would still happen anyway.

Stay with everyone but lie/hide who he is. This would allow them to work as a group to stop Sinclair. It would also mean he could watch over and protect Elizabeth and the other people he loved.

He tried, tried so hard, evaded everything and everyone, did half alone, so he could stay friends and hide who is is, while still trying to gain more knowledge of the Dark King. Of a past self.

He could've tried to lie. But with all the evidence piled against him? Touching the dark artifacts which have no visible effect on him (they don't know where to look, and Will is good at hiding). That one black stone of which I've conveniently forgotten the name, which held the shadow kings. I wonder how he would've talked his way out of that one, realisations must've come and come. Don't get me started on Visander (being there, specifically)

And they "know" the one who puts on the collar controls James. (Now this isn't the case, but do they know that? No. Would they listen to reason? No. It's just more proof piled on he's bad. He's evil.) And Will does (control him).

(If we go with the assumption that's what the collar does. It's very typically unclear and i yearn to know more)

The truth is, that there was likely never a way Will was going to get what he had hopped for, and that hurts so much. He just wants so bad to be good and (just as importantly) to be seen as good. And to be loved! To be seen as Will. Everything he is, everything he may have once been (even if he doesn't remember it), and everything he is trying to be and still be loved anyways. It is so heartbreaking.

Instead, he's not seen at all. By anyone who matters to him. He disappears as a person and becomes nothing more than an idea they need to snuff out.

I think that once they realize James is collared (cause right now they have no idea) they will totally think Will did it, and that will further "prove" that they are right.

Though, Dark Heir does give us some hope regarding Violet. There is this line, in Chapter 50, from Violet's POV:

It gave me so much hope. Once they so some reflecting (hopefully, eventually)

On that same note, when Will said this on page 463 to Cyprian:

So you can take a shadow, you can pledge yourself to darkness, but I can't be trusted with my own power, even when I want to do what's right?

I feel he'll be thinking about that too.

But Cyprian isn't speaking to Will, he's speaking to the Dark King, to Sarcean, in a way. Like you said, he's an idea, a used to be concept now made real, the one thing they've been brainwashed (and yes I mean that) their entire lives to fight, to kill, to end and destroy.

There is no more Will. No more friend.

they don't know what happened at the gate, the end of Dark Heir. they don't know who collared James. Are they gonna assume it's Will?

It sucks for him, because as far as he could tell his choices were:

Run away from everyone and attempt to work alone. He kind of tried that. It didn't work out so great. He almost died.

Run away from everyone and everything and pretend nothing is happening. We know he'd just be chased and so does he.

Run away with just James (while lying about who he really was) and try to beat Sinclair that way. If he had done this, Violet and Cyprian would never have let it stand. They would assume James kidnapped him or was somehow controlling him. They would absolutely have followed and attempted some rescue, which would have distracted them all from what needed to be done. This very likely would have just gotten Violet, Cyprian, and Elizabeth killed by Sinclair. Also, Will promised his mother he would protect his sisters and we know Will always keeps his promises (or does everything in his power to do so).

Tell everyone the truth and most likely be killed by the people he loves and all the horrible shit would still happen anyway.

Stay with everyone but lie/hide who he is. This would allow them to work as a group to stop Sinclair. It would also mean he could watch over and protect Elizabeth and the other people he loved.

He tried, tried so hard, evaded everything and everyone, did half alone, so he could stay friends and hide who is is, while still trying to gain more knowledge of the Dark King. Of a past self.

He could've tried to lie. But with all the evidence piled against him? Touching the dark artifacts which have no visible effect on him (they don't know where to look, and Will is good at hiding). That one black stone of which I've conveniently forgotten the name, which held the shadow kings. I wonder how he would've talked his way out of that one, realisations must've come and come. Don't get me started on Visander (being there, specifically)

And they "know" the one who puts on the collar controls James. (Now this isn't the case, but do they know that? No. Would they listen to reason? No. It's just more proof piled on he's bad. He's evil.) And Will does (control him).

(If we go with the assumption that's what the collar does. It's very typically unclear and i yearn to know more)

The truth is, that there was likely never a way Will was going to get what he had hopped for, and that hurts so much. He just wants so bad to be good and (just as importantly) to be seen as good. And to be loved! To be seen as Will. Everything he is, everything he may have once been (even if he doesn't remember it), and everything he is trying to be and still be loved anyways. It is so heartbreaking.

Instead, he's not seen at all. By anyone who matters to him. He disappears as a person and becomes nothing more than an idea they need to snuff out.

I think that once they realize James is collared (cause right now they have no idea) they will totally think Will did it, and that will further "prove" that they are right.

Though, Dark Heir does give us some hope regarding Violet. There is this line, in Chapter 50, from Violet's POV:

It gave me so much hope. Once they so some reflecting (hopefully, eventually)

On that same note, when Will said this on page 463 to Cyprian:

So you can take a shadow, you can pledge yourself to darkness, but I can't be trusted with my own power, even when I want to do what's right?

I feel he'll be thinking about that too.

But Cyprian isn't speaking to Will, he's speaking to the Dark King, to Sarcean, in a way. Like you said, he's an idea, a used to be concept now made real, the one thing they've been brainwashed (and yes I mean that) their entire lives to fight, to kill, to end and destroy.

There is no more Will. No more friend.

That man had seen through the Regent's plan, understood that he wanted Damen to bed Laurent so the revelation of who he was would crush him, and thought Laurent truly didn't know who he was.

And still, he slept with him.