Three Dark Crowns

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of graphic violence, physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual content, and death.

Katharine, Pietyr, and Natalia are eating together when Natalia announces that William Chatworth Jr.’s delegation arrived early, and the suitor wishes to meet Katharine. Natalia admits that Katharine looks much stronger and healthier than before. She also presents Katharine with a snake that she says is Sweetheart, though she privately tells Pietyr that Sweetheart died. Natalia says this snake was trained to be similar. She praises the progress Pietyr has made with Katharine, but she doesn’t like how protective he seems. 

When Pietyr returns to Katharine, he reminds her that she will have to pretend to like the way mainland boys kiss and laugh at their jokes. When Katharine startles the snake, it moves to strike, and Pietyr reaches between them. The snake bites him instead. He realizes how afraid he was that the snake would hurt Katharine.

Arsinoe and Billy walk through town. She explains to Billy that Beltane begins the Ascension Year and consists of a three-day celebration. The Hunt is first, and it provides meat for the feasts. Then comes the Disembarking, when the queens’ suitors are presented, and the queens demonstrate their gifts at the Quickening, which takes place on the third night.