Shadows in the Tunnel

Caoirse and Klanasta, Deacons of the Order, follow a trail into a rain-soaked, ancient tunnel, searching for missing comrades. Their bond, a psychic connection, offers comfort but not safety. The camp is deserted, and their search leads to a flooded passage where they find the bodies of their fellow Deacons. Suddenly, monstrous, crab-like creatures attack, killing Klanasta and dragging Caoirse into the depths. The sense of dread and helplessness is palpable, as the unseen threat overwhelms their training and powers. This opening sets the tone of lurking horror and the vulnerability even the powerful feel when facing the unknown, foreshadowing the personal and supernatural battles to come.

Prisoner of Her Body

Sorcha Faris, once a formidable Deacon, lies paralyzed in the Mother Abbey's infirmary, unable to move or speak. Her former husband Kolya and her true partner Merrick visit, but she is isolated, her magical bond with Merrick reduced to a trickle of emotion. Kolya, under orders, tries to reforge their bond, an act both illegal and invasive. Sorcha's frustration and despair mount, especially as she senses betrayal from those she once trusted. When her old partner Garil and Aachon, Raed's first mate, arrive, they smuggle her out, believing only those who gave her the geistlord's gift can cure her. Sorcha is powerless, voiceless, and forcibly cut off from the Order, her fate now tied to uncertain allies and a mysterious past.

Courtly Intrigues Unveiled

Grand Duchess Zofiya, wary of a new courtier, Lord del Rue, enlists Merrick's help to uncover his true nature. Their conversation reveals Zofiya's trauma and loss of faith, and Merrick's own emotional burdens. Zofiya's intuition, sharpened by past encounters with geistlords, senses something rotten about del Rue. Merrick promises to investigate, and their mutual respect and subtle attraction deepen. The court is a web of secrets, with the Emperor distracted and the threat of rebellion simmering. This chapter exposes the political and emotional undercurrents at the heart of the Empire, as personal loyalties and suspicions intertwine with the larger supernatural threat.

Rossin's Bargain

Raed, the Young Pretender, tracks his sister Fraine, now a revolutionary, into the fortress of the Shin. Alone and hunted, he reluctantly allows the Rossin, the geistlord within him, to take control in exchange for survival. The transformation is agonizing, and the Rossin's predatory nature is both a weapon and a curse. Raed's memories of betrayal and loss haunt him, especially the murder of his crew by Fraine's orders. The fortress is a labyrinth of traps and horrors, and Raed's struggle with the Rossin's influence mirrors his struggle to hold onto his humanity. The chapter explores the cost of power and the thin line between savior and monster.

Bonds Severed

Returning to the Abbey, Merrick discovers Sorcha is gone, spirited away without his knowledge. His confrontation with Garil and the Arch Abbot Rictun reveals deep divisions and corruption within the Order. Merrick's bond with Sorcha, once a source of strength, is now a liability in the eyes of the leadership. The Order's rigid hierarchy and fear of the unknown have made it vulnerable to manipulation and betrayal. Merrick's sense of duty wars with his growing disillusionment, and he resolves to find Sorcha, even if it means defying the institution he once revered. The emotional cost of loyalty and the pain of separation are keenly felt.

Flight on Autumn Eagle

Aboard the airship Autumn Eagle, Sorcha is transported west, her body still unresponsive but her mind alert. Aachon, once a Deacon-in-training and Garil's former lover, reveals his own history and the dangers of weirstones—magical artifacts shunned by the Order. Sorcha's invulnerability, a gift from a geistlord, is both a blessing and a curse, isolating her further. The crew's loyalty to Raed and their suspicion of Sorcha create tension. Aachon's use of weirstones to track Raed, and his confession of past love and regret, deepen the sense of loss and longing. Sorcha's journey is both physical and existential, as she is forced to confront her identity and the limits of her power.

Masks at the Ball

Merrick attends a royal ball, tasked with investigating del Rue while navigating the treacherous waters of court politics and his growing feelings for Zofiya. The ball is a spectacle of beauty and intrigue, but beneath the surface, old enemies and new threats lurk. Merrick recognizes del Rue as a member of the forbidden Circle of Stars, the native Order that once sought to control geists rather than fight them. The confrontation is tense, with veiled threats and revelations about Merrick's own darkling shard. The chapter is a dance of attraction, suspicion, and danger, as personal and political stakes collide.

Blood and Betrayal

Raed witnesses Fraine's alliance with the Wrayth, a geistlord ruling through blood-drinking and breeding. The Shin's fortress is revealed as a hive of horror, with women enslaved and transformed. Raed's attempt to intervene leads to a desperate escape through deadly tunnels, pursued by monstrous hybrids. The Rossin's rage and Raed's guilt intertwine, as family ties are tested and the true scale of the Wrayth's threat becomes clear. The chapter is a visceral exploration of corruption, sacrifice, and the cost of rebellion.

Night in the Abbey

Merrick is imprisoned in the Abbey, accused of treason after Zofiya's disappearance. The brank, a cruel device, silences him, and he is cut off from his powers and the Bond with Sorcha. The Order is in chaos, its leadership paralyzed and its members divided. Merrick's wild talent, a forbidden power, becomes both a curse and a potential weapon. The silence and isolation force him to confront his own fears and the darkness within. The chapter is a meditation on powerlessness, resilience, and the search for meaning in the face of betrayal.

Wrayth's Hive

Sorcha, now mobile after a geistlord's intervention, infiltrates the Wrayth's fortress with Aachon and Raed's crew. The hive is a nightmare of breeding and subjugation, with Deacons imprisoned and used as vessels. Sorcha discovers her own origins—born of a Deacon mother and the Wrayth's breeding program, she is both weapon and anomaly. The revelation shakes her identity but also explains her unique powers and bonds. The escape is harrowing, with the group rescuing Raed and confronting the hive's monstrous denizens. The chapter is a crucible of self-discovery, horror, and the forging of new alliances.

The Coyote's Favor

Aboard the Autumn Eagle, Sorcha is visited by the Fensena, a cunning geistlord in coyote form. He offers to remove the geistlord's gift that has trapped her, in exchange for a future favor. The bargain is fraught with risk, but Sorcha accepts, regaining her mobility and powers. The Fensena warns of the Circle of Stars' plans to harness geist power and reshape the world. Sorcha's recovery is both a physical and spiritual rebirth, as she embraces her role in the coming conflict. The chapter explores the ambiguity of alliances, the price of freedom, and the necessity of compromise in a world of shifting loyalties.

Empire in Turmoil

The Empire teeters on the brink of civil war, with the Emperor manipulated by del Rue and the Order's runes mysteriously destroyed. Deacons are stripped of their powers, and the Mother Abbey is besieged by Imperial forces. Merrick and Kolya, aided by Nynnia's guidance, escape and gather a band of loyal Deacons. The loss of the Pattern, the magical blueprint for the Order's power, is revealed as the cause of their impotence. The chapter is a whirlwind of flight, despair, and the search for hope amid the ruins of authority and tradition.

Reunion and Revelations

In the chaos of Vermillion, Sorcha, Merrick, and Raed are reunited at Widow Vashill's house, along with a handful of surviving Deacons. The bonds between them—romantic, platonic, and magical—are tested and reaffirmed. Sorcha's origins and the nature of the Pattern are discussed, and the group resolves to confront del Rue and restore the Order. The emotional weight of loss, love, and responsibility is palpable, as each character faces the consequences of their choices and the uncertain future ahead.

The Pattern Broken

Merrick leads a Conclave, a union of Deacons' powers, to confront del Rue in the Devotional. The battle is fierce, with runes and wild talents unleashed, but the cost is high—deaths, injuries, and the collapse of the Mother Abbey. Del Rue is revealed as Derodak, an ancient Ehtia, and escapes with Zofiya. The Order is shattered, its leadership broken, and its members scattered. The chapter is a climax of sacrifice, revelation, and the shattering of old certainties.

The Last Conclave

In hiding, the survivors find Ratimana, the Patternmaker, who crafts a temporary Pattern on their skin, restoring some of their powers. The act is both painful and redemptive, a literal rewriting of identity and purpose. Sorcha, Merrick, and Raed lead the group in pursuit of Derodak, determined to rescue Zofiya and confront the Circle of Stars. The chapter is a testament to resilience, adaptation, and the forging of a new Order from the ashes of the old.

Collapse and Exodus

The Mother Abbey falls, the Empire is in chaos, and the Deacons become fugitives. Sorcha, Raed, Merrick, and their allies flee into the wilderness, pursued by Imperial forces and haunted by the resurgence of geists. The group is battered but unbroken, and Sorcha proposes the creation of a new Order, one that learns from the failures of the past. The chapter is a meditation on loss, hope, and the courage to begin again.

A New Order Forged

In the quiet of the forest, Sorcha, Raed, and Merrick find solace in each other and in the community they have built. The Patternmaker begins the work of inscribing new runes, and the survivors prepare to face the challenges ahead. The bonds of love and friendship are celebrated, even as the threat of the Wrayth and the Circle of Stars looms. The story ends with a sense of hard-won hope, as the characters embrace their scars and set out to forge a new future from the ruins of the old.

Characters

Sorcha Faris

Sorcha is a powerful Active Deacon, defined by her fierce will, deep sense of duty, and a past shrouded in mystery. Her relationships are complex: once married to Kolya, her true bond is with Merrick, her Sensitive partner, and she is drawn to Raed, the Young Pretender. Sorcha's journey is one of loss and transformation—paralyzed and cut off from her powers, she is forced to confront her origins as the product of a Deacon and the Wrayth's breeding program. This hybrid nature grants her unique abilities but also isolates her, making her both weapon and outcast. Sorcha's psychological arc is one of self-acceptance, as she learns to wield her power not just for the Order, but for a new vision of community and love.

Merrick Chambers

Merrick is a Sensitive Deacon, whose empathic abilities and wild talent set him apart. His bond with Sorcha is the emotional core of his character, providing both strength and vulnerability. Merrick's journey is marked by loss—of his partner, his Order, and his sense of self. Imprisoned and silenced, he discovers the depths of his own power, both magical and emotional. His relationship with Zofiya adds layers of longing and responsibility, while his wild talent becomes both a weapon and a source of guilt. Merrick's development is a study in resilience, as he learns to lead, to love, and to accept the darkness within himself.

Raed Syndar Rossin

Raed is the Young Pretender, heir to a lost throne and host to the Rossin, a predatory geistlord. His life is a constant negotiation between duty, guilt, and the hunger of the beast within. Raed's relationships—with his sister Fraine, his crew, Sorcha, and Aachon—are fraught with betrayal, loss, and longing. The Rossin's influence is both a source of power and a threat to his humanity, and Raed's struggle is to hold onto his identity in the face of monstrous temptation. His arc is one of sacrifice and acceptance, as he learns to use his curse for the greater good, even as it costs him dearly.

Grand Duchess Zofiya

Zofiya is the Emperor's sister, a woman marked by trauma, loss of faith, and a fierce protective instinct. Her relationship with Merrick is a rare source of intimacy and trust, and her suspicions about del Rue drive much of the courtly intrigue. Zofiya's abduction and manipulation by del Rue/Derodak test her resilience, but she emerges as a symbol of the Empire's wounded heart. Her psychological journey is one of reclaiming agency and hope, even as she bears the scars of betrayal.

Aachon

Aachon is Raed's first mate, a man of strength, loyalty, and hidden vulnerability. Once a Deacon-in-training and Garil's lover, Aachon's history with the Order and his use of weirstones set him apart. His devotion to Raed and his crew is unwavering, and his pragmatic approach to danger balances the idealism of others. Aachon's arc is one of reconciliation—with his past, with lost love, and with the new Order he helps to forge.

Kolya Petav

Kolya is Sorcha's former husband and Sensitive partner, a man torn between duty, jealousy, and genuine care. His attempts to reforge the bond with Sorcha are both selfish and desperate, and his eventual decision to help Merrick escape marks a turning point in his character. Kolya's arc is one of letting go—of Sorcha, of the past, and of the rigid structures of the Order.

Garil Reeceson

Garil is Sorcha's old partner and mentor, a retired Sensitive with the rare gift of prescience. His actions—smuggling Sorcha out, guiding Aachon, and making hard choices—are driven by a sense of duty and guilt. Garil's prescience is both a blessing and a curse, as he sees the darkness ahead but is powerless to prevent it. His arc is one of sacrifice and sorrow, as he watches the Order he loved fall into ruin.

Fraine Rossin

Fraine is Raed's sister, a woman radicalized by loss and manipulated by the Wrayth and Tangyre Greene. Her alliance with the Wrayth and her role in the brewing civil war make her both victim and villain. Fraine's arc is a tragedy of agency lost, as her quest for power and revenge leads to her own destruction and the unleashing of greater horrors.

Lord del Rue / Derodak

Del Rue, revealed as Derodak, is the true antagonist—a member of the forbidden Circle of Stars and an ancient Ehtia. His mastery of both Active and Sensitive powers, his manipulation of the Emperor and Zofiya, and his plans to harness geist power make him a formidable foe. Derodak's psychological profile is one of cold ambition, ancient grievance, and a willingness to destroy and remake the world to suit his vision.

Ratimana, the Patternmaker

Ratimana is the original Patternmaker, a geistlord in human form, whose knowledge of runes and the Pattern is essential to the Order's survival. His madness and cunning make him both dangerous and indispensable. Ratimana's arc is one of reluctant redemption, as he aids the Deacons in forging a new Pattern and a new Order, even as his own motives remain ambiguous.

Plot Devices

The Bond

The Bond between Active and Sensitive Deacons is the emotional and magical core of the narrative. It allows for shared power, communication, and empathy, but also creates dependencies and vulnerabilities. The severing and restoration of Bonds mirror the characters' emotional journeys, and the unique three-way Bond between Sorcha, Merrick, and Raed is both a plot engine and a symbol of chosen family. The Bond's fragility and resilience are tested throughout, reflecting the broader themes of trust, loss, and renewal.

The Pattern

The Pattern is the secret design that enables the Order's runes to function. Its destruction by the Emperor, manipulated by del Rue, renders the Deacons powerless and precipitates the collapse of the Order. The quest to restore or recreate the Pattern drives much of the latter half of the narrative, and its recreation on flesh by Ratimana is both a literal and symbolic act of rebirth. The Pattern's role as both a source of power and a point of vulnerability underscores the dangers of centralization and the need for adaptability.

The Rossin and Geistlords

The Rossin, the geistlord within Raed, is both ally and threat—a source of strength and a constant temptation to violence. The Wrayth, Fensena, and other geistlords represent the many faces of power—predatory, cunning, seductive, and destructive. The bargains struck with geistlords, and the consequences of those bargains, are central to the plot and to the characters' psychological development. The geistlords embody the dangers of unchecked power and the necessity of self-mastery.

Weirstones and Runes

Weirstones, shunned by the Order but embraced by outcasts and enemies, are a symbol of forbidden knowledge and the dangers of rigid orthodoxy. The runes, inscribed on talismans and later on flesh, are both a source of identity and a point of contention. The destruction and reinvention of these magical tools mirror the characters' journeys from tradition-bound roles to new forms of agency and community.

Conclave and Wild Talent

The Conclave, a union of Deacons' powers, is a desperate measure in the face of overwhelming odds. Its formation and dissolution are fraught with pain, loss, and the risk of madness. Merrick's wild talent, a forbidden and unpredictable power, becomes both a weapon and a symbol of the need to embrace the unknown. These devices explore the tension between individual and collective action, and the price of leadership.

Analysis

Wrayth is a story of transformation—personal, institutional, and societal. At its heart, it interrogates the costs and possibilities of power: who wields it, how it is shared, and what happens when the old ways fail. The collapse of the Order, the shattering of the Pattern, and the rise of new alliances all serve as metaphors for the necessity of adaptation in the face of crisis. The characters' journeys—from isolation to community, from tradition to innovation, from fear to hope—mirror the broader arc of a world in upheaval. The novel warns against the dangers of rigidity, secrecy, and the lust for control, embodied in the Circle of Stars and the geistlords, while celebrating the messy, painful, and ultimately redemptive work of forging new bonds and new orders. The lessons are clear: power must be questioned, community must be chosen and remade, and hope is found not in the restoration of the old, but in the courage to build something new from the ashes.

Last updated: January 16, 2026