Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales

The sight of Wendell’s blood healing the land confirms Emily’s worst suspicions: In Faerie, the monarch is tied inextricably with their realm, and the only way to save Silva Lupi is for Wendell to die. When Emily shares her theory with Wendell, much to her annoyance, he does not despair. He hugs her and expresses confidence she will find a workaround. In any case, even if he does die, Emily will be the next ruler, and a far better one than he. Emily leaves for Trinity College, Dublin to research possible solutions to their conundrum.

As Emily spends all her time at the library, Wendell writes to her, asking her to return shortly since he misses her. Emily is moved by the letters but worries that Wendell is leaving out the troublesome things that may be happening in Silva Lupi. On her fourth day in Dublin, Emily runs into Dr. Farris Rose, her colleague from Cambridge, and her niece, Ariadne.

Delighted to meet Ariadne, Emily tells her and Farris all about the curse in Silva Lupi. Apart from Wendell’s death, the only other way to stop the land from being poisoned is to stop the poisoner, but the problem is that