Skyshade

The Wildlings live in a castle that was once owned by Isla’s deceased father, who used to be Grim’s general. Isla learns that his current general, Astria, is her cousin, but Astria doesn’t trust her. Isla speaks with the Wildlings about their adjustment to life on Nightshade, but she’s unable to identify the traitor. Wren keeps “light green” snakes “with shining black eyes” because their venom has medicinal properties (97). Isla wonders if she might be the traitor, but she dismisses the thought because other Wildlings saw “half green, half black” snakes acting strangely (96). Isla decides to trust Wren, tells her about the treachery behind the nightbane’s blight, and asks to be informed of anything suspicious. Isla returns to Grim’s castle, where she overhears one of his councilors telling the ruler that she is a traitor. Grim’s unshakeable trust in her fills her with guilt because the prophecy may mean that she must kill him.

Grim spends his time preparing his realm for the approaching storms and searching for Nightshade’s portal. Meanwhile, Isla disguises herself and searches the city’s underbelly for someone that she feels deserves death. She finds a man strangling a woman and carves out his heart as a gift for the augur, but he asks for more.