Ep 3 Quicksilver: Chapter 15-25

Summary

Fantasy Fangirls Podcast

Ep 3: Quicksilver Deep Dive – Chapters 15–25

October 13, 2025
Hosts: Nicole & Lexi

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Episode Overview

In this episode, sisters Nicole and Lexi continue their in-depth, spoiler-filled analysis of Quicksilver by Callie Hart, focusing on chapters 15 through 25. This lively, lore-rich discussion features chapter recaps through “Lorreth’s Ballad,” deep-dives into character arcs, magic systems, and worldbuilding, and explores key plot points, foreshadowing, and fan theories. The sisters also engage in their trademark banter, including the “Funny, Flirty, or L-worthy” segment and answer burning questions directly with insights from the author, Callie Hart.

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[08:07] Lorreth’s Ballad: Chapters 15–25 Recap

Nicole recaps the chapters in poetic, playful verse, hitting the highlights:

• Ch. 15–17:

  • Fisher sneaks Seras and Carrion Swift from the Winter Palace to a remote tavern to avoid magical detection. Seras struggles with traveling and Fisher’s broken promises about her brother.
  • At the tavern, heroes’ tales about Fisher come to light, contrasting Seras’s low opinion of him.
  • The group travels through the Shadow Gate to Fisher's ancestral home, Kalash, where Fisher is genuinely beloved.

• Ch. 18–22:

  • Seras faces the immense and unclear task of forging relics, outmaneuvered again by Fisher’s oath-bound bargains.
  • A tense dinner in the Kalash dining room is interrupted by feeder monsters; Seras is poisoned but rescued.
  • After recovery, Seras endures being “bed-bound” by Fisher’s command.

• Ch. 23–25:

  • Seras’s forging failures and a mysterious bird tattoo appear.
  • Dania and Fisher's war council lay out the grim state of the war.
  • Lorath recounts how Fisher once saved his life via an ancient ritual.
  • The episode closes with Fisher and Seras visiting the vibrant village of Ballard—a rare respite and an opportunity for deeper emotional connection.

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Key Insights & Discussion

[14:14] Magical Geography and World Shaping

• The sisters get delightfully nerdy with “travel math,” comparing the fantastical distances between locales to real-world mileage and travel times.
• The “Wicker Wood”—magical haunted forest acting as a prison—hints at future plot relevance.
  • Nicole: "Who else wants to raise their hand if you think we’re going to learn more about this Wicker Wood in later books? Yep, yep, yep." [16:45]

[19:00] Seras the Outsider

• Seras’s sense of alienation in fae society is palpable; her previous confidence as a Third Ward standout is gone.
• Lexi: "Here she might be in a similar looking pub, but the types of people, the cultures, everything else is different, and she knows she's not safe here."

[31:20] Fisher’s Reputation: Hero or Villain?

• Fisher is recognized as a living legend by fae and humans alike, but remains uncomfortable with praise.
• Nicole: “Kingfisher has spent 110 years hearing only the chanting of people he feels like he’s harmed…” [32:14]
• Lexi: "It’s only the first of many moments where Seras is forced to confront who Fisher really is—heroic, self-sacrificing, and far more complex than she’s allowed herself to see."

[34:03] Shadow Gate Travel and Fae Magic

• Vivid breakdown of the horrifying experience of crossing the Shadow Gate.
• Lexi and Nicole compare Seras’s choice between magical agony and endless horseback discomfort:
  • Lexi: "I think I’d prefer riding a horse over this pain. 80 hours on a horse? I could do that." [34:14]

[38:09] Updates from Zilvarin

• Carrion Swift’s casualness upon arrival suggests hidden depths and preparation for his true role.
• Hayden is alive—and in fact, thriving more apart from Seras.
• Foreshadowing for Hayden’s future involvement with rebels or clandestine groups.

[42:05] Oath-Bound Bargains & Fisher’s Tactics

• Fisher manipulates every oath and bargain for tactical (and possibly romantic) advantage, to Nicole’s mounting frustration.
• Nicole: “Is this worthy of an L for Fisher? For tricking her yet again?” [44:46]
• Lexi: "She led with all of it. He’s just smiling, going along with what you’re telling me..." [44:58] (Their usual push-pull continues.)

[54:43] The Dining Room: Power, Jealousy, and Fae Custom

• Cerus inadvertently sits in the ‘lady of the house’ seat, causing a stir among observers but not Fisher.
• The tension and chemistry between Fisher and Seras escalate with razor-sharp banter:
  • Nicole: “Fisher says, quote, 'I’d know the smell of you anywhere, on anyone...'” [56:11]

[58:46] The Feeder Attack

• Graphic description and analysis of the horror-movie-like feeders and their poisonous claws.
• Lexi: “This is precisely the moment that I would die in a fantasy book...”
• Fisher’s quick thinking and heroism save Seras.

[69:36] Dream Foreshadowing

• Seras dreams of brimstone, fire, and swarms of feeders—interpreted as ominous symbolism for her future as the Vampire Queen ruling these monsters.

[74:01] Consent and Compulsion—Fisher’s “L” Count Grows

• The sisters debate Fisher's use of oath-based commands over Seras’ autonomy, ultimately doling out several “L’s” (failures) to Fisher for his heavy-handedness.
  • Nicole: “Every time he commands Saris, he gets an L. He makes her feel powerless.” [73:01]

[78:20] Relics, Failure, and Magic

• Seras’s forging struggles underscore her outsider status.
• A key insight: Seras must stop thinking like a human blacksmith and embrace her emerging fae (or something more) magic.
• Callie Hart is directly quoted and consulted to clarify lore questions throughout.

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[88:02] War Council, Lupo Proalia & Dania’s Fury

• At the war camp, readers meet new faces in Fisher’s legendary inner circle, the Lupo Proalia.
• Dania is introduced as a complex foil—devastated by Fisher’s long absence and prejudice against Seras.
• Nicole: “She is not pleasant to be around... I cannot count myself as part of that team because she is pissed.” [95:23]
• Major lore drop: Fisher once saved Lorath’s life by soul-binding, connecting their fates in a future-ominous way.

[129:25] Ballard: Emotional Highs, Magical Realism, and Micro-Dates

• Ballard, a vibrant fae village, serves as both character reset and relationship turning point for Fisher and Seras.
• Subtle language, color, and magical detail are highlighted (the “lady of the house” seat, magical flowers, sentient wind, Kingfisher’s clothing colors).

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[147:12] Rosarius’s Library: God Swords Deep Dive

Lexi explains:

• Godswords are relic weapons, forged by ancient alchemists with quicksilver, now largely dormant with only a few retaining any magic.
• Only those “sealed” to a godsword can wield it safely.
• Naming, sealing, and the process of an alchemist forging a sword are all part of complex ritual—each detail matters and offers future plot hooks.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [19:14] Nicole: “I’m on Saera’s side here. I’m sorry.”
• [32:14] Nicole: “Think for a moment how badly Fisher needed to hear this... 50,000 people are still alive because of him.”
• [56:11] Fisher (quoted): “I’d know the smell of you anywhere, on anyone. I’d know it. Blind and in the dark across a sea. I’d be able to scent you.”
• [81:22] Fisher (quoted): “If I were evil and using your oath for my own purposes, I’d order you to get to your knees for me. I’d order you to part your legs for me. I’d order you to suck and fuck me until you passed out from exhaustion. Is that what you want, little Osha?”
• [93:04] Lexi: “He might be one of my new favorite people that we’ve deep dived, and we’re only on episode three.”
• [141:30] Nicole re: Fisher: “Don’t call her 'Sunshine'... She is moonlight. The mist that shrouds the mountains, the bite of electricity in the air before a storm. The smoke that rolls across the battlefield before the killing starts. You should call her Majesty.”
• [151:51] Nicole: “Kingfisher’s horse being named Bill. I never knew how desperately I needed this hilarious line in a fantasy book.”

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Key Timestamps

• [08:07] Lorreth’s Ballad – Chapter-by-chapter poetic summary
• [14:14] Travel math, world geography, Wicker Wood lore
• [19:00] Seras’s outsider status; early tavern tension
• [31:20] Fisher’s reputation; tales of his heroism
• [34:03] Shadow Gate: magical travel
• [38:09] Catch-up on Hayden and Zilvarin
• [42:05] Fisher’s oath trickery
• [54:43] Dining room, jealousy, and fae seating customs
• [58:46] Feeder attack and aftermath
• [69:36] Nightmares & Queen foreshadowing
• [74:01] Autonomy v. Compulsion; the “L” debate
• [78:20] Seras forging failures; magic theory; Callie Hart clarifications
• [88:02] War council; Lupo Proalia & god swords
• [129:25] Ballard village: romance & emotional healing
• [147:12] Rosarius's Library: Godswords 101

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Listener Q&A & Author Insights

• The hosts regularly text Callie Hart for clarifications on lore, magic, and plot inconsistencies, providing exclusive insights:
  • On magic tolerances, time discrepancies, language construction, rune meanings, and more.
  • Callie Hart: "Every detail in the book serves a purpose and has a reason. If it hasn’t been revealed yet, chances are the reader isn’t supposed to know about it yet."
  • On language: “I absolutely borrowed from other languages. I love Gaelic and Irish, so I’ve definitely drawn inspiration... And bits of Latin.”

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Funny, Flirty, or L-Worthy [155:48]

A recurring game where Nicole and Lexi rate Fisher’s actions/lines:

• Flirty: “I’ve been told my mouth has healing properties, especially when administered between a pair of thighs.” [156:20]
• L-worthy (problematic): Using compulsion oaths, demeaning comments, denying agency.
• Funny: “The stable hand… ‘Is Carrion for sale?’ and Fisher quips, ‘What’s your best offer?’” [156:25]

Current “L” count for Fisher: 12 (as of this recap).

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Standout Secondary Characters

• Carrion Swift: Fellow “human” who is more than he appears (hinted at being the lost heir).
• Archer: Beloved fire sprite, mother-figure, and comic relief.
• Lorath: Fisher’s soul-bound brother, bard turned fighter, central to fae lore.
• Dania: Lupo Proalia member with a grudge, spotlighted for deeper development.

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Lore, Foreshadowing, Fan Theories

• Seras may possess ancient or unique magical heritage (perhaps predating Yvelia’s fae).
• Timeline inconsistencies may hint at parallel universes or timeline manipulation.
• The lost gods, quicksilver’s sentience, and ancient alchemy are all tied to coming plotlines.
• The sisters place bets on how many times “obsidian” is said in Book 2, and speculate about Hayden’s coming-of-age arc, soul-binding consequences, and the true meaning of mysterious phrases like “Anorath Mor.”
• Quote re: soulbinding consequences [125:58]: Lexi: “If Fisher dies first, he's condemned to wait for Lorath to die before he can move on, which would be absolutely horrible...”

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Closing Remarks

• The sisters highlight their favorite moments (including Fisher’s horse Bill, the magic in the mundane, Archer’s warmth, and family Christmas quiche).
• Regular reminders about lore resources, community events, and fan engagement opportunities.

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For Next Episode

The sisters will cover chapters 26–37 and tease more revelations about the fae world, romance, and impending war.

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For new fans and deep divers, this episode offers a comprehensive, witty, and highly analytical exploration of Quicksilver’s middle act—combining friendship, lore, romance, and the unique sisterly charm that defines the Fantasy Fangirls podcast.

Transcript

[Lexi]

Did I talk too much? Can't I just let it go? Thank you so much.

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[Lexi]

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[Nicole]

It's fall y'. All. And if you know me, you know fall is one of my favorite seasons. It's just the best time of year here in Colorado. You start to feel the crispness in the air and you put on the occasional scarf. Oh, I love it. But you know what makes me love it even more? Knowing I've got me undies on underneath. Their micro modal fabric is like a warm hug. It's lightweight, breathable and perfect for layering season.

[Lexi]

And best of all, Me Undies has a new Halloween collection. It is so much fun. It is full blown Halloween here in our household. The kids love it and Jake and I were so excited to get the Halloween underwear. It's, you know, the little things in life, right? My absolute favorite too is their glow in the Dark undies. I am way more obsessed with this that I should be admitting into a microphone.

[Nicole]

Me Undies is quickly become my favorite underwear. You know it's time to do laundry when I no longer have any me undies. I'm not joking. My favorite is their Dream Scene collection. I have multiple bralets and multiple pairs of underwear because it's literally the only thing I wear.

[Lexi]

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[Nicole]

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[Lexi]

Oh yes, that is one of my favorite features. Squarespace's email campaigns gives you all the tools you need to engage clients, promote your services and grow your business in one place. You know our Fantasy Fangirls newsletter? Yep. It is brought to you by Squarespace's email campaigns. It makes building out pretty emails and campaigns so much easier and I absolutely love it.

[Nicole]

Head to squarespace.com FFG for a free trial when you're ready to Launch. Use code FFG to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain. Welcome, welcome, welcome to the Fantasy Fangirls Podcast where two sisters dive deep into beloved fantasy lore and characters. That series and more.

[Lexi]

I'm Lexi, older sister and Fantasy Lore nerd.

[Nicole]

And I'm Nicole, younger sister and romantic at heart.

[Lexi]

And today we are continuing our deep dive of Quicksilver by Callie hart with episode three where we are covering chapters 15 through 25. Buckle up friends because we have a lot to get through today if we are going to deep dive this whole.

[Nicole]

Book before Brimstone comes out.

[Lexi]

First things first though, please listen closely to our spoiler warning. Every episode has spoilers for all of Quicksilver. Yes, that includes the end and may reference any of the bonus chapters.

[Nicole]

So if you don't know what's in the books that Fisher's reading in his tent, then please go finish the book. We will be here when you're done.

[Lexi]

Next, we a Fantasy Fangirls are adults who say adult things about adult books. In other words, friends, this podcast is.

[Nicole]

Rated R. It's episode three and we already have a sex scene that is Quicksilver and I am happy. So please, dear God, be mindful of those little listening ears.

[Lexi]

Additionally, we are so excited to see you at upcoming live events. We'll be at Romanasy Bookcon in Orlando, Florida October 23rd through 25th where we are interviewing Rebecca Yorres again at Disney World.

[Nicole]

Then we are thrilled to be hosting a Brimstone midnight release party with Tattered cover and booking gather on November 17th in Denver, Colorado and on March 6th.

[Lexi]

Through 8th in Dallas, Texas. We will be podcast partners at Dreamers and Readers Festival.

[Nicole]

Check out our website or the links below for more information to all of these events and a promo code for Dreamers and readers. In addition, welcome, welcome welcome Fantasy Fan fellas to the Fantasy Fangirls Media Network.

[Lexi]

Our very own Executive producer Hayden and Booktok star Stephen Walker are launching a new podcast where every week they will dive deep into Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn.

[Nicole]

But here is the twist. Hayden is an expert in Sanderson's Cosmere and has already read the Mistborn series.

[Lexi]

But Steven has not. So each episode will only have spoilers up to the chapter covered on the episode. As Hayden takes Steven through his first.

[Nicole]

Time read, there will be character breakdowns, magic explainers and even some wacky predictions provided by Steven.

[Lexi]

For what's next, be sure to follow the Fantasy Fan Fellows on social media, antasy fanfellas on Instagram and TikTok.

[Nicole]

First episodes, yes, plural air Wednesday, November.

[Lexi]

5Th last thing before we jump into episode three of Quicksilver. If you love Fantasy Fangirls and want more events, more content, more community and so much more, please check out Fantasy Fan Club.

[Nicole]

We have the three membership tiers that you can join. Number one, the Hive Mind which includes access to our Boppin Discord live Q&As from Lexi and myself. Book clubs often featuring authors themselves for live Q&As. Community events, promo codes for live events plus 20% off and access to exclusive merch. That is all for $6 a month. Or you can join the Spice Watchers which includes everything from the Hive Mind level plus early access to ad free episodes, our free full episode outlines and special voting privileges that is for $10 a month. And lastly we have our Feral Fans which includes everything from the previous two tiers plus more behind the scenes content, a welcome gift, giveaways, private Discord Channel.

[Lexi]

And your name shouted out on the.

[Nicole]

Podcast that is for $25 a month.

[Lexi]

Join the party at fantasyfangirls.com fan club. The link is also in the show notes and really and truly, thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts as we've turned this podcast into a dream come true. It is all because of you.

[Nicole]

And now it is time to go to. Yes, you guessed it, the Dining Room.

[Lexi]

To start off every episode, Nicole does us the honor of summarizing this stretch of chapters. So gather round as we sing Laura's ballad to discuss what happens in chapters 15 through 25 of Quicksilver.

[Nicole]

Chapter 15 on horseback, they leave the Winter palace behind. It doesn't take long before Fisher's unkind. Sarus isn't used to riding in his saddle, so Kingfisher offers her something else to straddle. Finally, they make it. The tavern's in sight, but the journey's not over as they wait and sit tight. By the time Ren joins them, Cerus is three beers deep. He warns Kingfisher he'll end up in a compost heap. The patrons have noticed who's here in the room. Kingfisher really wishes he had a costume. Kingfisher. Kingfisher the hero. They scream. Are we sure this isn't some wild dream? Chapter 16 the Shadowgate awaits our dear Saera's fane. But she'd rather take her chances with open terrain. Tired of her shit, Kingfisher calls on their oath. Not his finest moment when it comes to character growth. Up, down, left, right. No one prepared Saeras for the portal's might. After losing her dinner, she's brought to her room. Carrion Swift stands there. Wait, where's his boot? But his presence isn't all bad. He brings us good news.

[Lexi]

Hayden's alive.

[Nicole]

Seiros can stop her. Boohoos. Chapter 17 the Estate of Kalash is grand and divine, with sprites of all kinds making the endless floors shine. The forge here is huge, different than the palace. But some things never change. Like Sayers glaring at Fisher in malice, he twisted her words from an oath once again. When he pulls out trunk after trunk of jewelry without end. You can go home once 15,000 relics are create. Seriously Serious. I can't believe you took the bait. Chapter 18 With Nowhere to start and no information to read, Cerys grabs medals at random with need. But something is missing. As she looks around, the Quicksilver whispers.

[Lexi]

Wanting to be found.

[Nicole]

After four failed attempts, Serious gives up. But Ren decides, decides it's the perfect moment to show up. An invitation he brings to Sayer's. Alright. To dinner, she'll go with Kingfisher. Sit tight to the dining room. She goes where Kingfisher's a Sight but gasp. What's this? Seyrus sits to his right. There's no time to question the sprite's reactions. Feeders crash in with the perfect distraction. Sabers fights a good fight but is slow on the draw, for she was hit with the feeders poisoned claw. Chapter Night thank gods for fey healers. The poison's all gone. Let's get out of this room and keep working till dawn. Ah.

[Lexi]

Ah, ah.

[Nicole]

Kingfisher commands. She stays in his bed. I'm betting he wishes he stayed and got head. After six long days, she's finally free, but it's back to the forge to make relics.

[Lexi]

Whee.

[Nicole]

She makes no progress time and time again, but Kingfisher is back with another invitation. Thanks, Ren. Not wanting a moment alone with Kingfisher, Sabers calls for backup that she knows won't ditch her. Back to the dining room. Ren can't believe the serious has the nerve to sit on Fisher's right, but Deer Wren's shock turns its head since King Fisher won't hold back to make serris red. Chapter 20 we're off to Erin, a war camp near Hel. Across the darn is where the vampires dwell, but first to the armory to practice their fighting. Cerus tries to keep up, but damn, these fae are like lightning. Kingfisher, still an ass, watches her spar in the snow. But we're off to his tent, and now she'll get the show over a meal where they argue again. Fisher's had enough. Seiris snaps back and and then they're kissing. Oh boy, maybe they'll bang. But sadly, Fisher pulls back before he whips out his wang. To the war tent we go, and Dania is pissed. She attacks King Fisher, but her sword is vanquished. There's no time to wonder about the shattered sword. It's time to break the ice to protect the camp from the Horde. Chapter 21 the Horde is coming and the tensions are climbing. The big guns are out and the hammers are chiming. Oh dear, they're here, the bloodthirsty feeders. Qali really knows how to add the stress to us readers. But the tides are turning as black smoke rolls out. Malcolm clocks us too well and wants to sow doubt. You remember how your dear Kingfisher was missing? Yeah, he was with me. Malcolm's words come out hissing. Chapter 22:30 minutes later, Fisher collects his girl. Luckily the shadow gate to Kalish doesn't make Seirs hurl. Seirs wants to know what Malcolm was saying, but Fisher cannot say the Truth without disobeying. So what on earth can they talk about instead? How about some horizontal talking in bed? And that's when we scream bang bang, bangity bang. But I can't help but smile and cheer and sang. So it's time for snuggles and all the pillow talk. Nope. Homeboy goes back to camp. What the fuck? Chapter 23. The next morning, Seiris is back to E rin. But what the hell is this on her skin? A tattoo of a bird. Huh? What could it mean? Away from the camp, up on the hillside, Serious finds the forge. Stride after stride, more experiments come. But there's still no progress. This is starting to feel like. I don't know. Let's just guess. Chapter 24. The sword is still shattered to pieces. But Dania's patience quickly decreases. They argue, then bitter, then argue some more. Dania's ready to throw hands and settle the score. But the truth comes out. They have only one year, troops are running out of supplies, and Malcolm grows near. Well, martyrs. That's terrifying to think. So, Lorath. Where can a girl get a fucking drink here? In the tavern, Lorath gives Seiris the tea. Ldr Fisher can't lie, but he's no open memoir. Since Lorath is talking the teeth. What's the deal? Well, it's a sex thing, making your dick hard as steel. But enough about that. We want to get to know him too. So Lorath tells the story of how King Fisher saved him.

[Lexi]

Phew.

[Nicole]

Chapter 25 at Kalish, the next day, the sun's way too bright. But Fisher is ready to go somewhere else. Alright. To a village they go. It's quite the adventure. So many new places and faces to remember. Fisher can see smile, and if I'm not mistaken, he looks quite happy for a male who doesn't want to be taken. But the good vibes end there. And Seiris plate ends up on the floor when she can't help but say, Anorath Mor. Winding through the cobbled streets to an apartment so small and covered in sheets. He used to live here with his mother long ago. But it looks like she's not sharing a bed with her beau.

[Lexi]

It is time to dawn our pendants and step through the quicksilver to explore key insights, character analysis, lore, foreshadowing theories, and oh, so much more. Picking up right where we left off last episode. Kingfisher is taking a furious Seras and an unconscious Carrion Swift away from the Winter Palace. They head to a tavern 50 leagues or about 150 miles, or 241.5 kilometers away from the Winter palace, which is the necessary distance away to perform heavy hitting magic without alerting someone of the powerful magic bean conjured. In other words, if Kingfisher uses his magic to conjure the Shadow Gate, Belacan will immediately know what's up. And they need to use the Shadow Gate to get to their final destination, Kalash. The region within Yvelia that Fish's family has ruled over. Which is 800 leagues or about 2,400 miles or 3,864 kilometers away. So a very long ways away.

[Nicole]

Lexi, you know what? I brought back this episode. He brought back travel meth. Travel map is back, baby. Oh, how I missed you. In case you were wondering how far 2,400 miles is, it's about the same distance from LA to Charlotte, North Carolina, which would take a car 32 hours, roughly. But a horse's average speed is 30 miles per hour. So even if Bill and Ada were going their average speed non stop, much to Sayrus genitals dismay, it would take them 80 hours to get from point A to point B. Which then made me curious because the horses we know are walking, not like going their average 30 mile per hour speed. A normal horse walk is about 4 miles per hour. They're not even trotting, mind you. So even just getting from the Winter palace to the tavern would have taken actually 37.5 hours. So maybe those horses are fast walkers, because that's a long time in the Wicker Wood.

[Lexi]

It's only over one night. Like they. I know they are only traveling for like a night.

[Nicole]

So maybe they're like walk trotting and that's why like, Sarah is like, my ass.

[Lexi]

We have a Shadow Gate and there is still like. It's not even real travel math, it's just what if travel math. I'm moving on. On the first leg of this journey to the tavern, Fisher leads them through the Wicker Wood in the dead of night because it only takes them like 12 hours.

[Nicole]

Not even 12 hours, like 10 hours or so.

[Lexi]

Now, the Wicker Wood is a very interesting and spooky place. The woods are a prison for those guilty of the most heinous crimes, where the trees entomb the evilest monsters. Okay, who else wants to raise their hand if you think that we're going to learn more about this Wicker Wood and later books. Yep, yep, yep. The Wicker Wood is full of shades or non corporeal beings, sort of like ghosts that can't touch, interact with or hurt anybody. They do, however, scream as they relive their last moments of suffering. So definitely a terrifying place.

[Nicole]

I am not a horror movie person, but the idea of shades fascinate me. I. I'm totally with you. I think we're absolutely going to see them again. But I also wonder because next time Seiris comes back to the Wicker woods, she will have face sight. So I'm. I'm almost like, do I want to see them again? Because now they were invisible, but next time they won't be.

[Lexi]

Yeah, yeah, that's a good point.

[Nicole]

Yeah.

[Lexi]

Well, for right now, human seras cannot see shit in the dark, but that's, again, probably for the best. As her horse leads her along with Fisher, as minutes turn to hours, she's so, so worried about her brother, who Kingfisher did not bring here like he was supposed to. She's complaining worse and being more uncooperative than my toddlers on a long trip. And yes, I am holding it against. Sarah says she does not like horses. Her groins, you know, it's got to build up endurance for Fisher anyway, with all this writing. Like, I don't see why she's complaining. Although I do love that he'll find it hilarious that her ass hurts so much because he calls it payback for her being a persistent pain in his ass since they met. And I'm sorry, but from his point of view, he is right. She's.

[Nicole]

She thought she was getting her brother back and now she's being taken against her own will to yet another place without the thing that she thought she was promised to get. I'm on Saera's side here. I'm sorry.

[Lexi]

Once they get to the inn and have dropped carrion off in the stables to, you know, sleep some more, they hang out inside to wait for rent. And I love all the different creatures that are introduced in the setting. We're starting to see how much there is to this world. And I love seeing such an array of species in this fantasy setting. It feels more D and D than other fantasy books. And I really love how Callie just fully embraces it. I know it's becoming a bit of a sound bit, but it's still so true. I want to point out how out of Ceres's element she is here in this unknown world.

[Nicole]

See, look, I am defending her here.

[Lexi]

In episode one, we discussed how Serous was a big fish in a small pond there in the Third Ward. But here she might be in a similar looking pub as in her realm, though the types of people, the cultures, everything else is different and she knows that she is not safe here.

[Nicole]

Now there's something that I want to talk about in both this scene and also the tavern in Erin that we'll be covering later, but it's nagging at me as Seiris and Kingfisher are passing the time. They have some alcohol, multiple alcohols if you wish. That Kingfisher does say is more potent than others, but serious mentions not feeling remotely drunk. Then later with Lorath a similar things happens where they are well into their drinking and then she starts to feel fuzzy around the edges and she notes how Lorath, who's like this burly fey male, is more drunk than she is. This feels notable because the what I know about blood alcohol content. Something's not matching up. My gut is screaming that this has to something to do with. I want to say Fae, but then the Lore thing doesn't really make sense. It's like almost like they have higher alcohol tolerance. I'm.

[Lexi]

I don't know.

[Nicole]

I'm on the lookout for this.

[Lexi]

Okay, I admit that I originally laughed when you said you had an alcohol theory to include in today's episode, but that's really good. Thank you.

[Nicole]

Like something's here. I don't know what it is, but I'm waving my hands and saying something's happening.

[Lexi]

It's third down. Did you see the game last night? Of course you did. Because you used Instacart to do your grocery restock. Plus you got snacks for the game, all without missing a single play. And that's on multitasking. So we're not saying that Instacart is a hack for game day, but it might be the ultimate play this football season. Enjoy. $0 delivery fees on your first 3 orders. Service fees apply for 3 orders in 14 days. Excludes restaurants. Instacart we're here.

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[Lexi]

It's always vanishing.

[Nicole]

The commute, the errands, the work functions, the meetings.

[Lexi]

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[Nicole]

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[Lexi]

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[Nicole]

There isn't one. We just respect you and your time.

[Lexi]

Oh, you're still here.

[Nicole]

Move along now. Enjoy your day. Sell your car today. Carvana.

[Lexi]

Pickup fees may apply. This show is sponsored by Squarespace. We live in a digital world and because of that, websites are essential for everyone who runs a business. Whether you're just starting out or scaling your business, Squarespace gives you everything you need to claim your domain, showcase your offerings with a professional website and grow your brand.

[Nicole]

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[Lexi]

Oh yes, that is one of my favorite features. Squarespace's Email campaigns gives you all the tools you need to engage clients, promote your services, and grow your business in one place. You know our Fantasy Fangirls newsletter? Yep. It is brought to you by Squarespace's email campaigns. It makes building out pretty emails and campaigns so much easier and I absolutely love it.

[Nicole]

Head to squarespace.com FFG for a free trial when you're ready to Launch. Use code FFG to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain. Daily Stress we all have it. There's no avoiding it, but we can control how we respond to it. That's why we're so happy to partner With Ritual With Ritual's Stress Relief Featuring bioseries technology, you can make sure you're setting yourself up to tackle whatever life throws your way.

[Lexi]

Between all the responsibilities in life, stress is something that I can really struggle with. Between work, family and just taking care of myself, sometimes it can be a little overwhelming. But with Ritual, I know that I'm taking small steps steps every single day to tend to myself and my needs. When it comes to stress, Ritual is.

[Nicole]

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[Lexi]

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[Nicole]

This episode is sponsored by Better Help now. Lexi, did you know that October 10th is world mental Health Day? Well, in celebration this year, we are saying the biggest thank you, thank you, thank you to therapists. Huzzah.

[Lexi]

If you've been looking to connect with a therapist, BetterHelp is an essential resource. BetterHelp therapists have helped over 5 million people worldwide on their mental health journey. Therapy can be the safe space a person needs to have the conversations and realizations that can help you completely shift your perspective. With more than 30,000 therapists, BetterHelp is the world's largest online therapy platform and it really works. With an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 for a live session based on over 1.7 million client reviews.

[Nicole]

So I had therapy yesterday, and it was like one of those really good therapy days where, like, things are clicking, you're making money moves. It feels really, really good. So I was in my therapy session with Taylor. I was sitting there in that chair, and we were talking about how, like, I wasn't feeling very well. I was really wanting to rest. I was tired from Dragon gauntlet and feeling so happy and fulfilled. But I was like, I feel like I need to keep going. And we just had this long conversation and you know what I did?

[Lexi]

You rested.

[Nicole]

I rested.

[Lexi]

I knew you were in an extra good mood today.

[Nicole]

Thank you.

[Lexi]

Therapy.

[Nicole]

You have quite literally changed my life.

[Lexi]

This World Mental Health Day, we're celebrating the therapists who have helped millions of people take a step forward. If you're ready to find the right therapist for you, BetterHelp can help you start that journey. Listeners get 10% off their first [e-mail] FFG that's Better H lp.com FFG several hours later. Yay. Renfus is here. Except he brings bad news. Kingfisher upping and leaving the Winter palace with the king's alchemist and the godsword Solace. Yeah, it didn't go over very well. Here's the lowdown from Ren. Everlane is furious with her brother for leaving like he did and taking Seras with him. Have we mentioned how valuable she is to Bell Khan yet? Yet the plan for Fisher was simple. Stay for one week and then return to the front with Remfus, which is where he's going here anyway. So why, oh, why piss off Belacan like that by taking Seras and the godsword a few days early? Well, Fisher blames Sarris for trying to escape through the quicksilver without a proper relic, even though she had every right to believe the ring was a proper relic. So for why he felt the need to leave right then and there. Is it because if he were to not watch over Seras, then she'd accidentally put herself in a fatal position like. Like he's insinuating here? Or is this what would have happened when she woke the quicksilver and people figured out she tried to escape? She would be punched by the king. So Fisher had to get her out of there before she'd get in trouble. I mean, all of this is beside the reasoning with them being mates, which is always present, and Fisher knowing that Bellicon is actually bad, he had to get the two of them out of their asap. Because now that Fisher sees what Saris is capable of, Fisher knows she cannot have help Bellicon, so she has to help Fisher instead.

[Nicole]

Okay, yeah, that.

[Lexi]

I had to talk myself into that a little bit because I was originally like, why did he do this?

[Nicole]

That is my understanding. Is he. He also knows that Bella Khan is working with Malcolm, so he can only imagine that Malcolm is in some way expecting to have serious in his clutches. Oh, yes. And he's like, no, because we need to win this war. And in order for us to win this war, we need to have an alchemist on our side. So I feel like. Like, as much as I want in my little romantic heart to be like, it was entirely romance, I do think it was part of it. Yeah. They are mates. He wants her to be safe, obviously, Even though he also wants her to simultaneously hate him. But I do think a huge part of this was more the. The chip that she is to turn the tides of this war fully.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Yes.

[Lexi]

Yes. And plus, that Godsword of his father's, it does not belong to Bellicon. He is not worthy of possessing such a holy fucking relic, as Fisher calls it.

[Nicole]

It.

[Lexi]

And I will say he means holy literally, with it being a God sword. That is going to be today's library topic, and I can't wait to talk about it more. So, no, Fisher will not just let the usurping King add his father's sword to his collection, because it is believed to no longer be magical whatsoever. Though we know better.

[Nicole]

Especially because we know the last time that a God sword was in Bellicon's hands, he used it to murder the true Evilian king and the entire Dianthus line, which. Hold the fuck on now. It was not said that the sword he used to kill Rurik, Dianthus and the whole Dianthus line, except for Carrion, though we don't know that yet. It does not say specifically that it was Solace.

[Lexi]

So the quote is, the last time he laid his hands on a sword of note, he used it to murder the true king in the whole fucking Dianthus line. So it doesn't specify that Belacan used a God sword, only that it was an important sword that he had his hands on.

[Nicole]

I just figured, given the context clues around, they were only talking about God swords leading up to that line. I figured that sword of note was just another way of saying God sword. That was. So that was me just saying. Okay, so that was me more just thinking that because that was the type of swords they were talking about. That was the one he was meaning.

[Lexi]

And what Kingfisher and Memphis are discussing is the Dianthus line. And it is always worth calling out the last true king of Yvelia, Rukdianthus, who discovered the cure to the Blood Curse. We'll discuss soon. And his whole family were killed by Belakan, and Belakan usurped the crown, making himself king instead. However, we know that the firstborn son to Ruik and Amelia, Dianthus, survived and has been hiding in Zelvarin.

[Nicole]

Yes, and his name is Carrion Fucking Swift. As this conversation of Godswords grows more heated, whispers start spreading around the room. Not only is Renfas a Writhian, Renfus bloodsworn and Renfice of the Silver Lake here, but Kingfisher is here. And he has returned. When Fisher and Wren finally notice the whispers, they're ready to get the fuck out of here. Which Seiris assumes is because they're about to be ripped to shreds for doing bad things to these people again. And pointing out that Saeris is thinking the worst of Kingfisher. And again, I'm not faulting her for that, given that Kingfisher has given her every reason to. But I always like to point out Seiros's pessimism, because I think it's earned, in my opinion. As they get halfway to the door, they're stopped by a massive Fae warrior standing in the doorway. He drops to his knees and asks for a blessing from the Dragon's Bane commander. What the fuck? Fisher tries to brush this off as a mistaken identity, not wanting the attention for reasons we'll discuss in a moment. But the warrior knows he is not mistaken. His cousin fought with Kingfisher and his wolves at Ajin, Skye. Kingfisher saved the rippling banner of the proud Western Anisherek. At dawn on the floor fifth day, he cried against the rising sun and roused the people's hearts so that even those who were ready to pass on turned away from death and fought and found their strength to keep going. Kingfisher, a person who inspires others. Seirys is literally like, who the fuck is this person that you're talking about? Then another from the tavern steps forward. At Cinder's reach, Kingfisher stopped a horde that threatened to burn everything their people had built. 50,000 lives, as well as temples, libraries, schools, homes, et cetera. They all still exist today because of our dear Kingfisher. Think for a moment how badly Fisher needed to hear this. Yes, he does not take this in like the oh my God, thank you. That was so nice. But he has spent 110 years hearing only the chanting of people he feels like he's harmed and people who he feels like like their suffering is his responsibility. And here he is hearing from someone that 50,000 people are still alive because of him. But then, one after another, stories after stories rise up of King Fisher's heroism.

[Lexi]

This reaction from the folks in the tavern is a big moment for Sarah, seeing more of Fisher's character, and it's only the first of many we'll see in this episode. Alone outside of Bellicon's Palace, Fisher is truly revered in a living legend. Kingfisher might be uncomfortable with all this praise and attention, not feeling like he deserves it, but oh, the floodgates have opened and it is clear he is a good person who saves people. Gasp. But serious obviously has not seen that side of him. She's only seen what she's let herself seen with Fisher, and she is determined to hate him. Meanwhile, of course, Fisher is doing his best to make her hate him by being an extra big dick. Hearing all these great deeds by Fisher contrasts with everything she knows about him, both with how he has treated her, and definitely heightened by how she's only willing to see the worst in him. It might not change her mind about Fisher, but it plants the first seed and shows her what Rin and Lain have alluded to, which for Seras, she needs to see something to believe it. Especially when she has dug her heels in opposition. Quickly leaving the tavern and all their fans inside, let's go through a swirling black vortex to hell. Or more commonly known as a Shadow Gate. A Shadowgate lets you travel to across distances in the same realm, and it takes a lot of magic for Fisher to conjure this shadow. Magic is of this realm, so therefore it can only be used in this realm. It's described as pulling at the light from the tavern, twisting it into fine threads and sucking them into the center of the gate. Thanks to the oath she took, it doesn't take long before Serris is being told to go through the Shadow Gate into Kalash. More on that soon. But walking through the gate, your first time really sucks. Serris feels like she is being turned inside out and describes it as the wind becoming her and her becoming the wind. She is nothing. Blind death. A soulless whisper. And then she is pain. Light flares in her eyes, burning, her retinas flashing between red, orange, white and green.

[Nicole]

I'm so on wind watch. Do you think anything about her feeling like she's becoming wind has to do with the four winds back in Sylvarin?

[Lexi]

Not in? No.

[Nicole]

Okay, cool.

[Lexi]

Maybe so I wanted to give Sarah's a hard time for refusing to go through the Shadow Gate, but you know what? I think I would prefer riding a horse over this pain. How many hours? 80 hours on a horse. I could do that. When she gets to the other side, she throws up everywhere. What a way to enter Kalish. Speaking of, now is a good time for an introduction to Kalish. Kalish is a fiefdom, which if you're wondering what a fiefdom is, a feeble is essential element of medieval contrast. Based on feudal law. It was land or rights given by a lord to a vassal. In return, the vassal promised loyalty and agreed to provide services or payments to the lord. Basically, Kalash is a territory in Yvelia. This territory was controlled by King Fisher's father before he went missing. Due to Fisher's father's strained history with Belacan, he took precautions and warded these lands so that neither Belacan or his supporters can cross into them. Kalash is the closest territory bordering Sanus Roth, who Yvelia is at war with with. So while Kalish isn't the battlefront, we will be there soon. It's close to a war zone where we'll see. They do still have to fend off theaters where we go on. Kalish is a stately home with open arched windows, light airy hallways with portraits on the walls and overstepped armchairs. A house that's a home. Fisher's Family home to be exact. Which brings us to another strange thing about Kalish that is starkly different from the Winter Palace. Fisher is loved here, as we'll soon see with Archer, the fire sprite who practically raised Fisher. And we are absolutely obsessed with.

[Nicole]

With.

[Lexi]

He is beside himself with joy and relief that Fish is back. We'll later see with others how well respected and loved Fisher is. How warm people are to him and him back to them. Just like back at the tavern. A very different version of the fave warrior than Sarah Snows.

[Nicole]

Looks like one. Carrion Swift has been listening to Evanescence because he finally woke up and he's acting mighty funny. Or funny in a way that he's totally, wildly too chill about being in Evelia. More than anything, he's wondering, where the hell is his boot? Unlike Serys, Carrion grew up reading about the fae from books that Finryn left with Orlenna when she took Carian under her care over a thousand years ago. These books explained all about the different Fae lines and the Fae realm. So it's not entirely surprising that he's like, yeah, it's just a normal day.

[Lexi]

Okay, so Carrion has been preparing for something like this to happen for centuries. So he's probably relieved that it's finally happening. He's in his prime. He's probably tired of being stuck in Sylvarian. I know I would be. And he gets a feel for everything under the radar without his true identity known. I do also want to point out that the book that he had back in Salvarin, Kingfisher's father, had brought it so that Carrion would still have his heritage there to be able to learn about it. That warning about Prepare for War and all of that, that I think that it was Kingfisher's father who wrote that in the book. And that is his words. Yeah, I was so. I really.

[Nicole]

Oh my God, that's so good. Yeah. Yep, I'm on board. I am hopping on that train, ready to take off.

[Lexi]

It says, let me pull the book out here. Never forget monsters thrive best in the dark. Commit all you read here to memory. Prepare for war. Yeah. Yep. Definitely wrote that. Yep. That.

[Nicole]

That is canon in my head now. I do want to know what the hell is happening in Karion's mind because he knows he is the sole heir to the Dianthus line and he is finally back in the land that he's the heir to. Like there has to be something in his mind that it's like, oh shit. Shit's about to get Real.

[Lexi]

Maybe that's why he's extra funny. He's using humor as his shield for all the internal emotions. Emotions he's going through.

[Nicole]

So when I first saw that line in the outline, I was like, yeah, right, Lexi. But there's actually a moment later that I'm gonna bring up where I actually might agree with you on that, too. We're being too nice to each other this episode.

[Lexi]

It's okay. We're still early. And now, finally, we get an update on what's been happening in Zolvarin. Cirrus can finally learn what she's been dying to know since she woke up in Yuvelia. Hating is fine. There. That's the update. He's fine. Carrion got him papers and set him up in the 7th Ward the night Sarris went to the palace. Now Hayden is employed as a store clerk and he has triple water rations and a room to sleep above the shop. All in all, Hayden is doing far better than he was with Sarris. Sorry, girl, but it's true.

[Nicole]

So Serious was knocked out for 10 days. And then she had three days of pure panic, believing that her brother and her entire ward were dead. And now she's not only hearing that her brother's alive, but he's kind of thriving. That life that she dreamed of him having is finally here.

[Lexi]

Yes. And of course, there is the caveat that he's miserable. He's not happy. He's terrified for his sister.

[Nicole]

Yeah, but he has triple water rations. I know. He's doing a lot. He's doing a lot better. And I do just want to point out real quick that Hayden being all like, I will avenge my sister and makes me mighty nervous for how we're going to find him next book. I can almost guarantee you he has fallen in with the rebels or a rebel like group who say that they can help him find Sarris. Then maybe when Kingfisher and Carrion find him next book, and I do think they're going to find him. I wonder if they're going to bring him back to Sanis Wrath. What would I give for a Hayden going through the quicksilver moment and then. Then seeing his vamp queen sister? Like, I feel like we are just starting to see Hayden acting out because I feel like that version of Hayden is going to be a handful.

[Lexi]

Oh, God.

[Nicole]

Here's a question. Do you think that Hayden is going to leave Zilvarin next book to see his sister?

[Lexi]

I could see him doing that. I could also see him really getting wrapped up with the rebels. And wanting to stay in Zelvar and to overthrow the Queen and all of that.

[Nicole]

That's a very wishy washy answer. I was hoping for a bet.

[Lexi]

That sounds good. Meanwhile, Elroy goes to the palace gates every day and demands to see Seras. And then at his forge, he's grumbling about the mess that she's put him in. Besides that, life is going on like it normally does in the Third. Madra and her Guardians are busy preparing for the Even Light in a month. So, Nicole, do you know how much time passes between now and the end of the book? Is it about a month?

[Nicole]

I think it's less than. I don't think that Even Light has happened. Happened.

[Lexi]

Okay, because why, I'm asking, could Kingfisher and Carry on arrive back in Salvarin in time for the Even, Right, and get up to trouble there? Yeah, because if the timeline works, which it sounds like it does, I am willing to die on that hill. Especially with carrying saying that the whole city is buzzing with talk of what gift Madra will bestow on them this year. That sounds very ominous. And I wonder what the stage the Guardians are setting up with flowers is for.

[Nicole]

I have no idea. But I'm deeply concerned because this sounds like some President Snow shit. Like, where it's not gonna be, like, sunshine, rainbows, and butterflies. Like, this sounds like there's gonna be some dark, twisted shit happening. So there's about two weeks until they go to Erin. Because Kingfisher is gone for two weeks, and then everything between Erin Ballard, Everlane getting caught, all of that kind of stuff, that happens within just, like, a few days.

[Lexi]

Yeah.

[Nicole]

And then I can't remember how long it is after she wakes up, but I think it's like, only a few days after she's turned to vamp Fay. So I think it's like we're like a week and a half out from Even Light. If that's my quick on the fly math.

[Lexi]

Okay.

[Nicole]

Yeah.

[Lexi]

So it's coming up.

[Nicole]

It's coming up. Yeah.

[Lexi]

I also looked up the meaning of Even Light, but nothing really popped up. Only that it's twilight. Go figure. So I wonder if this event has something to do with the sun positions being extra low and this has something to do with the Goddess Twins.

[Nicole]

Oh, I could see that. Yeah.

[Lexi]

Kingfisher and Sarris make another Oathbound promise, to which this time, Serris is so sure she is being extra careful about the wording she makes Fisher say, quote, I swear I will release you and allow you and carry on to return to Zolvarin, the moment you have made enough relics for my people. Easy enough, right? She'll be home in no time. As soon as she makes a few relics to save countless lives. What Fisher failed to mention was how many Relics. Like about 15,000 for her to make.

[Nicole]

Not to get out my math again, but technically there's 1800 rings that need to be turned into relics in each trunk. And then there's eight total trunks, so that means there's actually 14,400. So still not great. It's a lot. But that's 600 less than she was thinking.

[Lexi]

She does say almost 15,000, so 600.

[Nicole]

Plus or minus is quite the almost.

[Lexi]

Serious. Also has absolutely no idea how to make the relics yet. She doesn't even know where she would begin. She's only figured out how to wake and make the quicksilver sleep. So. Fuck. This is all about to take a lot longer than she expected. But she still needs to find a way to make it happen so she can return home to her loved ones and help them survive against Madra. So she's like, like, I don't know how I'm going to do this, but I guess I have no choice. And I have to. It's up to her to melt down the rings, these family rings of the warriors who fight for Fisher. Then she has to transmute its properties so it will shield the wearer against the quicksilver. And then she has to cast it into something simple like the pendant Fisher wears around his neck. Oh, dear. Saris, you're not going back to Zavaren anytime soon. And our pissed off girl knows it. Realizing that she was duped again by a bargain with Fisher.

[Nicole]

Well, he also says that if there's like a stone or a carving into the ring, she has to keep it in order to, like, figure out whose pendant is whose. And I'm like, bro, that's gonna take so much longer.

[Lexi]

You know what she needs?

[Nicole]

What does she need?

[Lexi]

A spreadsheet.

[Nicole]

Down girl.

[Lexi]

Serious thought that she had Fisher with this bargain. She thought she had her way out. Seras is so sure of her abilities back in Sylvar and being at the the forge that she works in with Elroy. But here in Yvelia, she has no idea how to do what she is being asked to do in the forge. And it scares her. It pisses her off. This task of wielding magic is so foreign to her and she's being asked to do it without any remorse for her confusion or despair. Which, yeah, she's not going to get that from Fisher. He can have that one track mind. And from his perspective here is Seras with this ability. She has to figure it out. She will make the relics, she. She will save everyone. And she will discover what she's capable of.

[Nicole]

Is this worthy of an L for Fisher? Because I think so. Maybe not a capital, but definitely gonna.

[Lexi]

Give him an L for this.

[Nicole]

For tricking her yet again and making her.

[Lexi]

He didn't necessarily trick her. She led with all of it. And he's kind of smiling and he's like, okay, like I'll go along with what you're telling me to do here.

[Nicole]

He makes another oath with her so she can't leave, even though he knows she's pissed about the last one.

[Lexi]

I think again, that goes back to him being like, knowing how important she is. He needs those relics. And he probably wants her to hang out here a little longer. And she is so determined to get away from here and.

[Nicole]

Okay, fine.

[Lexi]

It's an L. I will hold off.

[Nicole]

On Ls, because I have a feeling he's gonna get a lot more. Don't worry, I'm keeping my L count. Everybody. When you are bowing to fulfill an oath, I guess you might as well just dive right into work and. Yeah, it's not really looking good for Seiris. That's not technically true. The trials themselves aren't looking good. Which is so disheartening as she has no clue what the hell she needs to add to the metal in order to make it a relic. She's not familiar with magic. She didn't grow up around magic. And at the end of the day, these relics do have that magical property to them them. And while she does have books written by the alchemists, they are written in old Fae. Therefore she cannot read them. But hold the phone, because, yeah, it is noticeable that Kingfisher has the books that Rosarius Library definitely doesn't. So what else does Kalish have is my mind. But secondly, yeah, she cannot read old Fae, but someone sure as hell can. Like maybe, I don't know, the male who's cursing all the time in old Fae. I definitely don't think we've seen the last of these alchemist books.

[Lexi]

Okay, this is where I would give Fisher a lowercase L. Because it's like, dude, you could translate assumably he can translate these to her and then she.

[Nicole]

Can have some more information. I cannot believe you wouldn't give him an L for making a lifebound oath against women.

[Lexi]

He's not known her lead on that one.

[Nicole]

Yet she did. You're giving him an L for not helping her study?

[Lexi]

Like, are you serious? Yes.

[Nicole]

Fine. All right. I will get an L. I will take an L. Oh, is that an official?

[Lexi]

Can it not be an official L? I don't want it to be an official L. Let's take it back.

[Nicole]

I have already marked it on my list. Fine. It's a lowercase unofficial L.9.5. But one aspect of Seiris magical journey is going right. Huzzah. She's becoming so much faster at changing the quicksilver from inert to wakey wakey. All she has to do is ask it. Ah, what good foreshadowing for us to see how she will actually get the relics to eventually bind with the quicksilver. All she needs to do is just ask and make a deal with them. So just 14,400 deals later and you get to go home. But we're not there yet. Now, this does make me think that when Kingfisher and Carrion go through the quicksilver next book back to Zolvarin, they're going to must have relic. I mean, obviously Fisher has his own relic, but she's going to have to make one for Carrion.

[Lexi]

I'm telling you, he still has his relic in Zelvarin.

[Nicole]

That's fair.

[Lexi]

I mean, he still has to get to Zelvara.

[Nicole]

I was just saying another relic to get there.

[Lexi]

But I do think he has one.

[Nicole]

But then she would also want to make one. Probably some extras in case they bring back Hayden and Elroy. Like, I'm. I'm just very curious how that's gonna go. What's the forge in Sanusroth look like? That's what I'm curious. Another thing that Ceres is getting good at is isolating the frequency for Evilian silver.

[Lexi]

Pause.

[Nicole]

Because this is really cool. Notably, it is not quicksilver, as it doesn't seem to have sentience, only a frequency. So when she's holding it, she feels the difference rather than can talk to it like she does with the quicksilver. So I'm thinking each metal has its own frequency slash feeling. And that is like the alchemy generic power. But then the specific things that she specifically has the power over, like that. The things that will be ruined into her skin at the end of this book. That is what has sentience with her.

[Lexi]

I have no idea.

[Nicole]

But you know what, Lexi? That brings me back to the beginning of the book. Because yet again, I don't think it was the gold talking to her. I think it was the quartz in the earth. So to put me out of my misery, I finally broke down and decided to ask Callie if at the beginning of the book if it was the gold or the quartz. Then here's what she said. She wrote an answer back to us and I'm so freaking grateful.

[Lexi]

So it's a text to Cali today.

[Nicole]

So it's text to Cali. The question I asked her was at the beginning of the book, was it the trace amounts of quicksilver in the golden Gauntlet making the quartz hover on the wall? Or maybe an earth power we haven't seen yet? Here is what Callie Hart said. Quote, if it hasn't already been revealed in the book, there's a solid chance the reader isn't supposed to know yet. That is all the clarification I need. It is the courts.

[Lexi]

She'S gonna be so annoyed with.

[Nicole]

We love you, Callie.

[Lexi]

We love you, Callie.

[Nicole]

Thank you.

[Lexi]

Who's ready for dinner in the dining room? Remfus is the ultimate wingman and coaxes Ceres to have dinner with Kingfisher. Fisher just needs to get to know her. That's all he needs to see Seras as more of a person and and that she's more than the tool he is wielding. Again, going back to that single track mind. So this is Remfest trying to help Fisher open his mind. While I really do believe that there is some truth to this with Fisher's one track mind, what Remphas does not seem to know is that Fisher see Sarah's as far more than a person with her, you know, being his mate and all. And he purposefully is trying to push her away. Except at the same time he is so drawn to her like she is to him him. Hence the delicious banter we get. But Fisher has his way of keeping his distance and still messing with Sarah's at dinner in the dining room. The dining table is a mile long and they're both sitting at opposite ends. She can barely see him with the flower arrangement between them and the wine is on his side. When he speaks, it sounds like he's right next to her because he's using magic and obviously Ceres cannot do that. So she has to resort to practically shouting down the table at him. Fisher agreed to take dinner like Sarah's did, but on his playing field.

[Nicole]

I'm not ashamed at how funny I think this is. I think this is amazing. Let's talk about that playing field though. Because these two's game of non stop who can come out on top is still on.

[Lexi]

It's like silver flames. When we had a count and this went with the count. This is not even worth it. It's literally every time they are together, somebody's always trying to do something.

[Nicole]

Something I was gonna say. I don't really feel like it's a game anymore. Because Kingfisher has way too many points to even fucking get out with them anymore. For Saris, she knows that tonight it's not Kingfisher's idea. Instead, this is something that he was guilted into by Ren. Or at least that's the story she's telling herself. Which makes her feel like Kingfisher will already be in a mood. And that's fine and dandy for her. Because while she's planning on working on the relic, Alex. Yes, she's planning on fulfilling that oath and having dinner with Fisher. That doesn't mean she has to be nice. She is ready for this dinner to be yet another opportunity for her to get some points back in this game. But what about Kingfisher's goal for the Sinner? Yes, he wants to get Ren off his back. His best friend is pissed at him for tricking a human into a blood oath.

[Lexi]

Blah, blah, blah.

[Nicole]

But Kingfisher is facing this internal struggle as well. As we learn in the bonus chapter the Fox the Boots Dress, which you can read for free on Kelly Hart's website or listen to on Audible. Kingfisher is in a sour mood before this dinner too. This internal struggle is amplified a million fold by being back in this residence after 110 years. He is surrounded by all the memories of the people he believes he's failed by not being here to protect them. And he's surrounded by the memories of his parents, specifically his mother, as he goes to her closet to get a dress for Sarus for dinner. But as he lays it out on Seiris's bed, he notices that this dress was not his mother's. Nope. It was instead made for Sarris. Ah, the oracle. Mother strikes again. For Kingfisher, it feels like the universe is determined for him and Serious to find some way to find each other if it was the last last thing it did. But he is determined not to make that happen. He needs to be an asshole, an absolute pig, so that she will hate him and leave him alone. But to get to spend a little bit more time with his mate and simultaneously make her hate him a little more. Yeah, it's a win win. Side note, I love that Serious does not wear the dress because she believes she hates dresses from the poofy skirts that she was forced to wear with Everlane. I don't think it's an accident though, that the style of dress Kingfisher picked out for her is very much not Evilian style, but sounds a lot more vampiric. Ah, the foreshadowing. But wait, while we are talking about fit foreshadowing, it is notable how in this scene, Kingfisher is wearing a dark green color, not his usual black, as Kingfisher has started to soften his his assholery with Saras. Subconsciously or consciously? I think it's the former. Though Kingfisher has started to introduce dark green into his wardrobe. Dark green to match his eyes.

[Lexi]

Oh. Tired of his games, Cirrus changes seats and goes to sit on Fisher's side. She takes a seat on Fisher's right. She sits on his right side. As we will later learn, this right seat is reserved for the lady of the house.

[Nicole]

House.

[Lexi]

Only Fisher's wife is allowed to sit there. Of course, she has no idea. So in this moment, no wonder Fisher twitches his lips up and soon enough, Archer absolutely freaks out and is all in a tizzy at where she's sitting. It's like Archer is realizing in real time just how important Seris is, or at least questioning it. And this poor fire sprite is probably a little bit confused. Notably, Fisher does not make Saris move or tell her what it means, and instead he tells Archer it's all right. And he's like, but, but. And he's like, it's fine. Don't worry about it.

[Nicole]

I love the moment at the second dinner when serious is being all pessimistic at Fisher and she says how he seems to not even care if she stays here in Kalish forever. And then Archer blurts out like this nervous burp giggle, and then runs away because he's like, you want to stay forever? I love Archer.

[Lexi]

Oh my gosh, I love Archer so much.

[Nicole]

Oh my God. But Kingfisher does still have to be an asshole. So even with her basically declaring herself his future wife, he pokes at her for sleeping with Carrion, mentioning her little obsession with the thief. Jealous much, Fisher? I fucking love jealous Fisher.

[Lexi]

Me too.

[Nicole]

So I know we're not officially in our game. Funny, flirty, or Elworthy, but I don't care, because this line deserves a place. Place in the main part of the Deep Dive. Sabris says there's no way in hell that Kingfisher could still smell Sarus on Carrion. And he says, quote, I'd know the Smell of you anywhere on anyone. I'd know it. Blind and in the dark across a sea. I'd be able to scent you. And then we'll get to the interruption in a section. But good sir. Flirty, right? I think we should both agree.

[Lexi]

What else would that be?

[Nicole]

I would. I just makes you so happy. But then. Boom. Breaking through the dining room windows. Four feeders drop to the floor. Feeders are tall foot soldiers from the Sanisrothian army who scaled the Omnimiran Mountains from the war front to go and attack Kalash. But to be quite honest, these feeders are more monster than anything. With patchy, stringy hair, white waxy skin over emaciated bodies. These creatures were once people, either Fae or human. But they were turned into these mindless feeders by Malcolm's vampire lords. Or by Malcolm himself. Quick note here. For Malcolm. If he bites someone, that person becomes under his control. But their personality remains. And everything that makes them who they are stays as well. They are forced to do his bidding should he wish. This is why everyone is so fearful for Everlane later on after she is bit by Malcolm. But the Vampire Prince's bites are a little different. As I understand it, if a Vampire Prince bites a victim and that victim is then instructed to drink from the person who bit them, they will retain their conscious mind and they will just be under the Prince's control. Not great. But they will still be themselves. If they don't, however, bite the person who turned them and drink from them, they will die and return as a feeder. Like we see here. The feeders are described as having got cheeks, spider webbed with black veins. Crooked fingers that end in poisoned claws. With a mouthful of elongated yellow fangs made for ripping flesh. And no tongue. Just a black pulsing stump where a tongue should have been. Red eyes. But like the whole eye is red. Like every single cell has burst and bled and is covering the whole eyeball. Gross. What's even more gross, their rotting skin has none other than pouring maggots out of them.

[Lexi]

Barf.

[Nicole]

They also move jerkily, which makes them unpredictable in a fight and more animal than person. And as we know, they do not think for themselves. When one was killed, even the other goes to lick their blood off the ground.

[Lexi]

The largest of the four feeders, a male with a thick black runic tattoo across his head. Launches himself at Fisher. Pause. Sorry, real quick pause. Because we have to ask about that runic tattoo on this male's forehead. I assume the tattoo is from when he was a Fae. Especially because we will See, Rune tattoos come up a lot more in the rest of this book. Did I talk too much? Can't I just let it go? Thank you so much.

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[Lexi]

Let's talk about what's going on.

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[Lexi]

All right, remember, the machine knows if you're lying. First statement Carvana will give you a real offer on your car. All online. False. True. Actually, you can sell your car in minutes. False.

[Nicole]

That's gotta be true again.

[Lexi]

Carvana will pick up your car from your door or you can drop it off at one of their car vending machines.

[Nicole]

Sounds too good to be true. So true.

[Lexi]

Finally caught on. Nice job. Honesty isn't just their policy, it's their entire model. Sell your car today too, Carvana. Pickup fees may apply. One thing I did not realize before I became a mom was just how big a role snacks would play in everyday life. I always want to make sure that my kids have the fuel they need, which is why our family loves Little Belly's brand new organic soft corn. Perfect for toddlers 12 months and up, these puffed corn snacks are made with organic ingredients, making them ideal for growing Little touch.

[Nicole]

Honestly, I'm really jealous because there are two delicious flavors. There's sweet and salty and cinnamon bun. Yum yum yum. Not only are these soft corn tasty, but they're also made with natural ingredients that are certified organic and non gmo. Plus they are baked, not fried and have no artificial colors or flavors.

[Lexi]

Huzzah. That's always good for us parents ready to add some new adventure to your toddler's snack routine? Look for Yellow Belly's new Organic Sweet and Salty Soft Corn and Organic Cinnamon Bun Soft Corn in stores. Find out more about these exciting new editions and the Full Little bellies [e-mail].

[Nicole]

A new era of power has arrived.

[Lexi]

With the Alienware Area 51 gaming laptops, intentionally engineered to push more power to the CPU and GPU for maximum performance. Combined with Intel Core Ultra 9 processors merging CPU, NPU, and integrated GPU into one AI optimized chip chip, it delivers fast, smart and seamless performance across everything you do. And with the new cryo chamber design, Airflow is focused exactly where it's needed most. Fused with Alienware's enhanced thermal solutions, it creates a higher power output without raising noise levels, allowing you to play with confidence even during the most demanding marathon gaming sessions. So no matter what you are playing, Alienware ensures every game runs precisely as its developers intended. A new era of power is here. All you have to do is take it. Discover Area51 today at www.alienware.com area-51laptops this episode is sponsored by Nordstrom. Fall is around the corner, and that means it's time to start thinking about autumn fits. I love the cooler weather because it means I can finally break out my sweaters, my boots, my comfy clothes. I love it. And there's no better place to fulfill your fall fit needs than Nordstrom.

[Nicole]

Nordstrom has many of our favorite brands at affordable prices, from Urban Outfitters to one of my absolute favorite brands of all time, madewell and more. When we shop at Nordstrom, we know we're gonna find affordable pieces that we love. And with free shipping and returns and fast options like buy online, pick up in store. Shopping at Nordstrom is so easy.

[Lexi]

And if you're more of an in store shopper than online, Nordstrom has great offerings in store as well. From free in store pickup and even free styling help. Huzzah. Nordstrom makes every part of the shopping experience as easy as possible.

[Nicole]

We love Nordstrom and think you will too. Check them out online or in store today. See you there. Okay, so I was also wondering about this because I was like, what the fuck? Because we do know that runes are magical properties. They're not necessarily only alchemist properties, they're just magic. And I decided, you know what? I can ask Kali about this. Here's what I asked her when the feeders attack during dinner at college, there's a feeder that has a rune on its forehead. Can you share anything more about that rune? And Callie said, quote, I wish I could tell you. All I can say is that every detail in the book serves a purpose and has a reason. If that reason hasn't been revealed yet, chances are the reader isn't supposed to know about it yet. Haha. Love you, Kelly. But what is this?

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Me.

[Lexi]

Fisher, being as swift as a courine river, whips out his magical God sword. Not yet. Whips out his magical God sword Nimrel, and cuts off the feeder's hand before.

[Nicole]

He can claw him.

[Lexi]

When it falls to the ground, we see its blood is actually black ichor, and a pungent stench of sulfur fills the room. Fun fact. Another name for sulfur is brimstone.

[Nicole]

And how perfectly apt that that is the name of the book where Cerus becomes vampire queen and she's ruling over all these fuckers. Oh my God, I'm so excited.

[Lexi]

Fisher yells at Ceres to move. Get out the way. Snapping back to attention, Serious leaps to her feet and grabs the dagger strapped to her thigh. She spins to face two feeders. The female feeder leaps up onto the table and dances. No. Leia's on all fours and and sniffs the air as if she's an animal. Then the younger feeder, who looks like a teenager, makes a weird clicking sound from his throat before rushing Ceres. Both of these feeders have blank eyes, no signs of intelligence, no real thought, nothing but that desire to kill. This is precisely the moment that I would die in a fantasy book. By the way, this is also when Seras would have died too, if it wasn't Fisher. When the female attacks, Seras is able to dodge, and she blocks the second swipe of the feeder's claws with her own blade, gashing into her. Oh, she just got scratched by a fetus feeder. The teen feeder jumps on Ceres, knocking her to the ground, and both feeders fall on top of her and they attack, attack, attack, clawing and ripping at her. When the female opens her mouth to bite Sarris, her jaw cracks open far wider than it should. Goodness, Callie knows how to describe a terrifying zombie creature, but right as Serris accepts this is her death, Fisher swoops in again. Literally. In one clean sweep swoop, he decapitates this woman. And as for the other feeder, Fisher quickly decapitates him as well, leaving all four feeders dead in the dining room. As Kingfisher will later say, this house has been unguarded since they arrived because he didn't think that they would need a unit to patrol the grounds. Fisher underestimated the feeders and how hungry they've become over the past 110 years in his presence. Once again proving that Remfus is right because. Because he suggested a patrol in the first place. Rufus is always right.

[Nicole]

Let's just be honest.

[Lexi]

But Fisher won't make the same mistake again. And now knows the house needs more protection than he realized.

[Nicole]

Saying that Saeris got clawed by a feeder is bad, but at least she wasn't bitten. So that's positive.

[Lexi]

Because if she was bitten, she would have turned into one of them too, right?

[Nicole]

Yes. And then I think because she was clawed, she was just gonna die.

[Lexi]

Yes.

[Nicole]

Like, it was like poison. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Feeder's claws contain that poison that is quickly affecting serious body. Not only is it causing extreme bouts of nausea. Saerus is also shaking so bad, it does not take long before she loses the feeling in her fingers. Scooping Seiris up, Kingfisher races to the healers to get the poison scourged from her body before it kills her. Waking up after being healed serious feels like absolute shit. But even though she no longer has a hole in her side or her leg, Cerus is still trapped in Kingfisher's bed. And not in a fun way. More on this in a moment. While she was unconscious and getting healed, we get a dream. A dream of death and liquid fire. Liquid fire? Yes. Brimstone does mean sulfur. It also means that volcanic fire, kind of like liquid fire. Sounds a hell of a lot like brimstone to me. Sabris is trapped in dark hallways that seem to stretch out for eternity. And whenever she opens a door in the hope of. Of finding, you know, a way out, she is instead met with crowds. And crowds of feeders who seem capable of only one thing. Obeying their first for blood. All the foreshadowing I will die on the hill. That this is amontreith that she's dreaming about like. And these feeders are all about to be her subjects.

[Lexi]

There's also the line in the dream where Seras thinks, quote, a soldier had to be able to follow orders to enact the will of another. Yeah, yes, Follow orders like her orders. But also, most of Malcolm's feeders at the end die right with the hundred thousand in the maze stadium because he's upset that she has now destroyed his army.

[Nicole]

True. But all of the feeders that the princes have turned are still alive. So there's thousands and thousands and thousands of Them still chilling in the stream. They are attacking her, tearing at her skin, ripping her apart. Which makes me very nervous, but also makes me feel like this is symbolism for her holding court next book. We can only imagine how unhappy the subjects of Senesroth are going to be having a previously human queen. They drank humans dry for thousands and thousands of years. I just don't see them bowing down and obeying her on demand.

[Lexi]

Tal, who is a highly ranked vampire, he will at least support her. That we can assume that at least. And if Kingfisher and Carrion are going to Zelvarin, does that mean they are leaving Ceres to figure out becoming a vampire queen on her own? I know Fisher's a different MMC than we're used to, but he is still overprotective of her.

[Nicole]

I do think that he's going to try. Because as we know from the Maze bonus chapter, him and Tal are very close. And Tal is technically the vampire who makes her. Which we're not entirely sure if that means that he has fake full control over her. Because technically he should if we're going by the normal standard. But also, I don't feel like Fisher would leave her with him if he did. Yes, so I think that she will not have that same enthrallment with Taladeus. As she is running away in the dream, Sarus trips and falls and falls and falls. Her blood feeling like it's on on fire all the while. I wonder if this is also foreshadowing for the end of this book where she's going through the transition and she basically feels like she's falling and flying through time suspended after the talk with the gods. And also from being turned vampire slash Fae. That would be my guess. Unless some shit's gonna go down in Brimstone that I'm very scared about.

[Lexi]

All right. We need to talk about how Fisher commands Sarris to stay in bed until there is no trouble. Trace of poison left in her. He'll be gone for a week to Eiren, the war camp on the other side of the mountains. And Ceris needs to rest to heal properly. So this is Fisher's way of ensuring Ceres does not do any permanent damage to herself by overestimating her abilities. He also doesn't want to underestimate humans healing abilities. Serris's life is too precious for a whole myriad of reasons. Right after Ceris was scratched, we saw how desperate Fisher was to get her help. He was terrified for her, her well being. And it's clear he's been worried over her sickbed all while she's been asleep. As he said back at the tavern, sometimes he have to cause pain for the greater good. The greater good is keeping Serris safe, and that includes from herself. Also, technically, she doesn't really have a room here that would not be sharing with Carrion. And Fisher doesn't exactly want that. But that also means he uses the oath she's bound by to do all of this. And this certainly is not the first time Fisher has commanded Serris under the Ocean Oath. Back at the Shadow Gate, when Saris refused to go through, Fisher made her go through. Remfest was more understanding that she was scared, and this was also unknown to her. But Fisher recognized this as needing to get from point A to point B. It's no big deal. She's delaying them and being stubborn, so this has to happen. Serious will later accuse Fisher of not giving her a chance to follow his lead willingly. She just needs to know why before she does something. I don't necessarily agree with her there, though, because when Remphes told her about exactly what would happen when she would go through the Shadow Gate, she stood her ground even more firmly that she would not go.

[Nicole]

She needed to know. Okay, in order to get from point A to point B, here's what's going to happen. You're going to walk through this, it's going to feel like this. You're going to wake up on the other side, and we're going to be here. I feel like if they went into that level of why in the detail, she would have willingly gone.

[Lexi]

Renfest kind of does that, though. He does.

[Nicole]

I am willing to not give Kingfisher an L for using the oath with the Shadow Gate, because I agree it's efficient. I think it was a little brash, but I do agree that it's efficient. We're giving him an L here, though, right?

[Lexi]

Oh, yes, absolutely.

[Nicole]

Okay, go ahead.

[Lexi]

I'm getting to it.

[Nicole]

Okay.

[Lexi]

I'm sorry, Was it an asshole move of Fisher in that instance, with Shadowgate like it is here? Yes, absolutely. And I understand how these actions really do give some readers the egg. And this is a new rule that I'm making for Fisher. Every time he commands Saris, he gets an L. So, yes, even the Shadow Gate, I suppose he does get an L for that, because the main thing is he makes her feel powerless. He made her feel more powerless than when someone was killing her. And that is never okay. No, we don't do that. So, an L for the Shadowgate earlier And definitely an L for commanding her to stay in bed. I will say though, even if she had known all the reasons why she has to stay in bed bed, she would not have done it. Whether it was her bread or his bed or anybody's bed. Sometimes when my toddlers are refusing to cooperate and we are in a big hurry or their safety is in jeopardy, like here with the poison and all of that, I have to pick my toddler up and I make an executive call. Even though I love them, I care for them and I support their independence.

[Nicole]

Yes.

[Lexi]

Sarah's is a grown woman, not one of my toddlers.

[Nicole]

Yeah.

[Lexi]

And she is scared about all this unknown. When she is used to being a big fish on a small pond. She's worried sick about her brother. She's basically been kidnapped from the palace. Fisher is being from two different palaces. Actually, Fisher's taking her from both of them. Fisher is being a grade A asshole to her. I get her perspective and why she's acting the way she's acting. But I'm also saying I see Fisher's perspective too. Else and all.

[Nicole]

I cannot believe this is happening right now. I am going to agree to disagree because yes, sometimes you need to pick your toddler up to like not run in the street. But that's also a 4 year old and she's 24. She's used to living on her own.

[Lexi]

She's acting like a four year old.

[Nicole]

She is used to living on her own. She is used to having autonomy over her life in every single way. And she's also used to every single move everyone else is making being a move against her life. I do not blame her for when autonomy is taken away from her, she is suddenly like, you're going to kill me. I need like you're going to kill me.

[Lexi]

Okay, when you put it that way, yeah, that makes absolute sense. I am not defending Kingfisher. I just gave him Ls.

[Nicole]

Yes, yes.

[Lexi]

I am looking from his perspective here. I'll also say this. Being stuck in bed for six days would drive me to absolute boredom too.

[Nicole]

I can barely be stuck in bed for three hours, let alone six days. Oh my God. Like she doesn't have a computer, TV or a Kindle. She has books. She has books in old Fae that she can't read.

[Lexi]

No, that's not true. Because Ty Lena gives her a book every single day.

[Nicole]

That's true. That's true. That's true.

[Lexi]

You know what I'm saying? That I wouldn't like this. This actually sounds lovely.

[Nicole]

I don't know, it sounds lovely how.

[Lexi]

You'Re not able to lay in bed for three hours. That's sounds like the best afternoon ever for me.

[Nicole]

I am far too restless for that.

[Lexi]

Yes, I'm aware of that. Your business partner. I am aware.

[Nicole]

I'm trying.

[Lexi]

Oh, man. But I will say this. It is Saris's loss to refuse Carrion as company. And also I'm giving her an L here because he has a lot of questions too. Okay.

[Nicole]

Okay.

[Lexi]

And she is not being very, very understanding to the other human who has been dragged here. Yes, on a reread, we have more context. And he's probably trying to get more updates about the state of his kingdom here. And like, what all he's got to play some catch up. Right? But on a first read, it's like, serious. You have more answers than Carrion does right now. Help a guy out. Just like you've been begging people to help you in the exact same way.

[Nicole]

I totally agree with you. I agree with the L that we're giving her. And I will say I think that she is taking out her entire anger about the whole situation. Where Kingfisher said he would get Hayden, he got Carrion instead, she's taking that out and that resentment entirely out on Carrion, which is not fair. And I can see why she's frustrated with him. Six days after being bedbound by Fisher's command, she's finally able to leave. Now that she's healed and the oath lets up and she does what every girl would do after being stuck in bed for six, six days straight. She goes straight to the forge. I would go to the shower is where I would go immediately. Or a bath. But there's a slight problem. Sarah is only able to run three experiments a day because she has so little silver to work with. Remember, Bella Khan has an embargo on silver. He gets all the silver in the land. So silver is a very tight resource. And because of that, she has to spend the last half of her day refining the silver so that she takes all the experimental hoobity blah out of it and she can start new tomorrow. This would drive me fucking crazy. Respect for Sarus. I would light something on fire. Then eight days later. So 14 days total since she woke up from the feeder attack. Kingfisher returns from Erin, the war camp on the other side of the mountains. Even though he said he would only be gone for one week.

[Lexi]

Week.

[Nicole]

We will come to learn that while he was in the camp, he did not make his presence known to everyone, but instead spent a Lot of time in his tent reading up on everything he could get his hands on about mating bonds.

[Lexi]

So later on, when Sarah's does visit his tent, she sees all these books just thrown out. And it's obvious that he has been very recently researching.

[Nicole]

That's what he's been researching in my own head. Canon Fisher was really worried about about Sares and her healing. So he stayed away an extra week in order to put distance between them and shake off the feelings.

[Lexi]

Another evening in the dining room. A few things for us to highlight from this scene. First and foremost, Seras invites Remphus and Carrion. Even though Fisher specifically only invited Slash demanded Sarah join him for dinner. She does not want to play Fisher's games again at dinner like they did two weeks ago. So she brings the others to act as buffers and to fight Fish. Fisher, she and him are always seeking to one up each other. So this is Serris's way of getting back at Fisher for making her come to dinner.

[Nicole]

Pause though, because as Wren is telling Seiris to go to dinner again and then Sayer is inviting Ren to this dinner, he looks nervously around at the doorway out of the forge and serious notes how his superior Fae hearing must have picked up on something. And then they move on. I wanted to know what this was, so I called. Or I texted Akali, I guess. So here was my question. When Renfis is asking Serious to dinner the second time, he hears something out in the hallway that only his Fae hearing detected. Was that Kingfisher? Was he listening? Or someone else? And here's what Callie said. Yes, it was a very subtle hint that Ren could sense Kingfisher out there in the hallway listening to what he was saying. I still plan on writing a scene from Kingfisher's POV where the reader gets to witness what happened to Ren and Kingfisher in the mountain mountains before that interaction between Ren and Saris transpires. A lot has gone unsaid there. I love it.

[Lexi]

I love it. Yay.

[Nicole]

We got an answer.

[Lexi]

We got an answer.

[Nicole]

Just because Fisher is irked that they have two extra guests here, that doesn't mean he's gonna let this crowd interfere with his flirting. Yes, Fisher is being an ass. All those lines we're gonna be going through in funny, flirty and Elle worthy. That'll be later. But there is an extra intensity to Fisher as he's talking to Sares here. Buckle up buttercups, because here we go. Cirrus is pissed that he compelled her again. She accuses him of Being evil and using this oath she was tricked into only for his own good. Again, I'm pointing out that while yes, Fisher gets two Ls, he has given her no reason to believe that his motives are entirely good. Sabers is yet again thinking the worst in him. I always want to point this out because her pessimism is part of her character development. And when Fisher is like, no, it was for your own good. We get a big ol hello, sir line. He says, quote, if I were evil and using your oath for my own purposes, I order you to get to your knees for me. I'd order you to part your legs for me. I'd order you to suck and fuck me until you passed out from from exhaustion. Is that what you want, little Osha? Hot, hot, Funny, flirty. It's not even funny or flirty. It is spicy meatball. That is a spicy meatball line.

[Lexi]

My favorite part is Renfest.

[Nicole]

He's like, dude, I'm right here.

[Lexi]

Well, okay.

[Nicole]

So the question does stand because he knows that Ren is going to be able to smell what he's doing to Seirys. And also lol the fact that Karion can too, although no one at the table knows that it. But the question does still stand. Why is he doing this with Karion and Ren right fucking there, serious again. Thinking the worst. Thinks it's to embarrass her, making her seem all hot and bothered and all so apparent that she wants him. But I truly don't think it's that at all. First, he's flirting with his mate because he's been away with her for two weeks. He missed the banter, he missed her. That is a headcanon that I will die on that hill for. But also I think, I think he needed to remind himself that she does indeed want him. And I think there's this perk that he's showing just how much she wants him to the other parties at the table, one of which Kingfisher is quite jealous of. He's basically saying a little bit of a fuck you to carry in. So the bonus fuck you is definitely pretty nice. And of course it is still Fisher. He needs her to believe that he's an asshole. And it works.

[Lexi]

This dinner is when Remphes sees what is going on between Saris and Fisher on full display. Play. First of all, Saris is sitting on Fisher's right again. And Remphus most definitely knows that is where the lady of the house is supposed to sit. And he's very surprised when Fisher says that she's made her decision, Let her sit where she wants. And Remphus is like, really? Ah, the double meaning to all of this. I love it so much. Like, I think that is Remfus being like, really? Like, she's into you like that. And he's like, yeah, really? But I also just love how Red is like, I'm not getting in the middle of this. He's happy to stay strictly on the sidelines with these two aggressive and rude courtships.

[Nicole]

Well, because I feel like Ren especially is much more of like, a romantic. Like, I feel like him and Everlane's courtship is going to be very, like, sweet and traditional and kind. And then there's Kingfisher, who's like, I order you to suck and fuck me. God, I love him. Alas, though, it is time for us to leave the dining room and it is in fact time for us to leave Kalash fully for now. War camp, anyone? Across the Omnimir mountains, on the edge of a wide river called the Darne, sits a camp of 20,000 tents. Holy moly. This is a big camp, but it's not all tents. There are also buildings that are even two stories made out of wood. That shows us just a how long this camp has been here. We know that this war has been going on for centuries, and without new supplies. It is a slowly degrading stalemate between these two sides. Evilia and the succeeding Sanisroth, which, yes, is right over the river. But unlike Irin, which is covered in snow and trees and life, the Sanusroth side is blackened, charred, and a total wasteland. Pillars of smoke rise up into the gray sky. Black dirt covers the ground, and in the distance we see a terrible black fortress sitting on top of a looming hill. Hello, Amon Traeth. Malcolm. Soon to be Sarus's palace, made of obsidian and built from the bones of demons. I cannot wait to hang out their next book. Maybe I'm becoming more of a horror thriller girly than I thought I was. I'm so here for this.

[Lexi]

We've already heard Harin reference it it, but we also know that the maze is made of obsidian and M4 created it with his magic. Could the obsidian be directly related to Malcolm's magic? Because I'm assuming that he built up his whole city and all of that.

[Nicole]

Okay, so question if it is Malcolm's powers. Obsidian is a naturally occurring volcanic glass. So could obsidian have to. Obsidian have to do with brimstone, like lava making something into obsidian? Yes, yes, sure, let's go with that.

[Lexi]

I was also gonna say, it also makes me wonder if Malcolm used his magic on Heron for Madra, and that is why Heron said those things about Obsidian.

[Nicole]

Maybe.

[Lexi]

Yeah. I don't know.

[Nicole]

I don't know.

[Lexi]

I am so not used to only having one book.

[Nicole]

I know. I'm like, where's my multiple keyword searches? You know what is humbling us so much?

[Lexi]

And I love it.

[Nicole]

You know what?

[Lexi]

At the same time as having to.

[Nicole]

Accept a lot of things, you know, one of the first things we're gonna do when we get the ebook of Brimstone is, like, after we finish it, obviously, is keyword search Obsidian.

[Lexi]

Maybe we should have a random bet to see, like, how many times Obsidian is said.

[Nicole]

Oh, my God. Wait. I'm so here for this. Okay, Price is right where rules whoever is closest. But under. Yes. Okay, I'm gonna say. I'm gonna say 20.

[Lexi]

Oh, I'm going to say, like, 70.

[Nicole]

Whoa.

[Lexi]

Yeah.

[Nicole]

Okay, then I might up mine to 30 then.

[Lexi]

Nope, you already said 20.

[Nicole]

Okay.

[Lexi]

Okay.

[Nicole]

Now you know if it's 69, though, I still win, right?

[Lexi]

Wait, what? That's not how it works.

[Nicole]

Because that price is right rule.

[Lexi]

No, no, no. I don't want to play those rules.

[Nicole]

Okay, fine. We'll just do whoever's closest. So you say 70, I say 20. We know from Kingfisher that amontreith means hell's teeth, and I want to just take a moment and pause to appreciate the freaking depth that Kali has brought into this world with basically making its own language. Which brings me to a call text a Callie, because I was so curious on how the hell she did this. And here is what she said. Quote, I created all of it. But let's not get too glamorous here saying I created it. Sounds like I sat down and mapped out the framework of a language, which is far from true. I recorded the meanings of the words that I have, let's face it, just made up so I can refer back to it and make sure things remain consistent. But I didn't build out any grammatical structures or anything as remotely impressive. As far as inspiration goes, I absolutely borrowed from other languages. I love the Gaelic and Irish languages, so I've definitely drawn inspiration and also taken a couple names from both Scottish Gaelic and Irish languages. You'll come across the odd bit of Latin here and there, and it would be very remiss of me, not to mention the very obvious fact that I had taken huge inspiration from Lord of the Rings when it comes to old Fae. Unlike me, Tolkien did create A brand new language from scratch when he wrote lotr. And not only that, but it was beautiful. Such an astonishing accomplishment. I really quickly want to point out the fact that she mentioned Latin back in episode one when I said serous means in Latin. You will see.

[Lexi]

I love this.

[Nicole]

I love this. God, that's so cool. While in Kingfisher's tent, over a hot meal together, these two pick up a rather interesting conversation. Something I want to note before I get into what Seiris declares. Since coming to camp and training with Ren, there's been a new spot bark in Seiris. Ever since Harren had captured her in Sylvarin, she's been at someone's mercy, whether it was Heron, Madra, Belacan, and especially Kingfisher. She's been carted from one palace to another, one realm to another. And the strength that powered her in Zilvarin was pretty much snuffed out in the war camp, though, sparring with Ren, she's finally starting to feel like herself again. She's powerful, she's capable. She feels like she's the girl who took down three guardians in the span of one fight. She's a badass. That confidence coming back into her cannot be overstated. How important it is for her character development, as this is a major pivot for her in the story. So with her feeling like herself and Kingfisher not being quite the unbearable ass he's normally, and her not really feeling like she needs to get the upper hand with him in the scene, she admits that she actually wants to help. Help out here with the war. Somehow she has this power, and especially now that she's seen the feeders firsthand, she wants to help those who are suffering under their attack in Evalia. So God damn it, Fisher, can't you just believe that? And then Kingfisher kisses her. He kisses her. He does not taunt her into kissing him or asshole flirt with her and get her a hot and bothered. No, this is very different. At the end of the day, Fisher is someone who deeply cares about others and wants to save as many people as possible in whatever manner that means. We saw this in the tavern when they were traveling to Kalish. This is the first time he is hearing that same type of core desire from Seiris. And it's in this moment where the need to be an asshole, where the need to push her away, it's impossible. So he kisses her and. And boy, what a kiss it is. Up against a wall, pressing into each other, grinding into each other. Kingfisher Nipping at her neck. Oh, that's too far. Kingfisher immediately pulls away. We'll talk about why that is in a moment, but first I want to put ourselves in serious pov. She just let her guard fully down and told Kingfisher as she's grinding up against him, that she wants him. And the next thing she knew, he was on the other side of the room. Yeah, she's gonna think, well, he just pulled away because I showed interest. And God damn it, I just pushed him away again. Da, da da da da. But what I love about this scene is that that's not the case at all. And Fisher knows that he needs to show serious that. So he comes over and places her hand on his heart. And it's beating wildly fast. Not in that slow Fae beating like he's showing her back in the Forge in episode two. No, this is the thumping like hers was. It's wild and nervous. And then he says, quote, I can't trust anything. Oh, Fisher. Because I love this scene so gosh darn much I wanted to get every flipping morsel out of it. I reached out to Cali. I really didn't hold back. Thank you, Cali, for dealing with me this episode. And asked exactly what was going through Kingfisher's mind when he said that. That. And here is what she said, quote, in the scene, the last thing Sarah says to Kingfisher before he flips the table and launches himself at her. The thing that makes him react that way in the first place is, quote, can't you just trust that? It's actually Sarus's statement that Fisher is replying to right before Fisher answers and says that he can't trust anything. It's noted that the quicksilver infecting him is actually still a fact designed to let the reader know that whatever, whatever he did or said next was all him. Fisher is always at war with himself when it comes to Seiris. He shows us that in small ways throughout the entire book here, once we're armed with the knowledge that he's known who Seirst was from the moment he lays eyes on her, and that he's supposed to be able to trust her more than anyone or anything, we'll see a little bit more of that internal conflict boiling over from him. Of course, Sabers has no idea. In the scene, she challenges him to trust that she is a good person and that she wants to help the Avalon people. Fisher's friends, his brothers, the people he cares about most and would die for. But that strikes A deeper chord for Fisher. He cracks, if only for just a second, and gives into everything he's feeling. But then his better judgment kicks in and he tears himself away. Hence the quote, I can't trust anything. As in he can't even trust himself. Only on a reread does the outsider maybe begin to un understand this meaning a little better. I really wanted to create this second subtle, hidden layer of the story for people who did go back and reread from the beginning, like me, so they might be able to see the cracks in his armor a little sooner than they might have the first round.

[Lexi]

I just love that extra insight about his character. And he might be one of my new favorite people that we've deep dove. And we're only on episode three. He is.

[Nicole]

Even though he has seven Ls on episode three.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Same?

[Nicole]

I think so. But that's one of the reasons why, like I, I also want to keep in mind this quicksilver. I want to track the movie in his eye a little bit more clearer that when it's still, that means it's all him. And when it's wild, that means it's taking over. Oh my God, she's so good. Quick side note though, I love that after this, when Saera sees Fisher in the war tent, he's dripping wet because he needed to go to a cold plunge to shake off what just happened between them.

[Lexi]

I did not catch that. I just assumed he's always wet in some way. Steamy makeout session over. Needs to meet with his generals and Lupo Proalia in the war room. After all, a few people have seen Fisher around since his return, but no one knows whether to trust the rumors. It needs to be time at some point to, you know, make himself known to. To all of the people. There are about 20 soldiers here in this tent slash war room room, because when you walk into the room, it's suddenly an actual room, not a tent. Anyway. What is Lupo Proalia, you ask? They're Kingfisher's wolves. Well, they're Fae, but they call themselves wolves. It's like his inner circle. Among his warriors, Lupo Proalia usually consists of eight members, but more recently, these numbers have sadly reduced. They fight as a team and work together like wolves. Witch. They each have a wolf sigil somewhere on their armor as well. Kingfisher is their commander, but as we know, Fisher has been trapped in the maze and he can't tell anyone where he's been, and he feels like he's abandoned his people. Danya certainly feels that he doesn't deserve the title of being their commander anymore.

[Nicole]

Oh, Danya, we have lots to say.

[Lexi]

About you, but right now, boohoo. You do suck. In fact, Kingfisher doesn't even want to be their leader anymore. He doesn't feel like he deserves it. But Remfest is like, yeah, sorry, brother, I don't accept that answer. And you're to going going to pull yourself up and be the leader we need, whether you like or think that you deserve it or not. The members of the Lupo Paralia present in this tent, and I think total at this point as well, include Remphes, who is the general of the army. Dania. She is an original member of the Lupo Pro Alia. Lorath, Kingfisher's brother. They're not blood related, but they call themselves brothers. He's extremely loyal, and I call him a golden retriever because he is just darling. And he willingly bound himself to Fisher when Fisher performed an ancient rite that gave Lorath part of his soul to save him from death.

[Nicole]

We do know a few other members who are not mentioned in this tent, but who have been members of the Lupo Pro. Elia Mirelle, who was Wren's twin sister, but sadly died at the Battle of Agin Gate. More on her later. Coryx and Vash Gideon, who were both present at the Battle of Agin Gate and survived, but we don't know where they are here in this book. I did a search for them and couldn't find them anywhere. And Folly, who was sadly lost and flung into a black darkness at the Battle of Anjan Gate. This has me quite worried for Folly, because we didn't technically see him die on the page, but more on that land flung into blackness. Makes me very nervous because what if he's on the other side of the darn? Okay, let's talk about Danya, the most bitter member of the Lupoproilia first when we meet her. Dania is not. Not pleasant to be around. She's furious to see Fisher again, rather than relieved like most people. Listen, Danya, in my opinion, she gets a bad rap. I definitely feel like we are going to become more Team Dania as the books go on. But for right now, I cannot count myself as part of that team because she is pissed. From her point of view. 110 years ago, Fisher left the Lupa Pro Alia high and dry with nothing to say that for himself, these warriors stood by his side no matter what. They trusted him. They bled for him. They are his family. And in their Minds. Or at least Daniel's. He abandoned them without any warning or indication about his whereabouts. And now he's coming back, 110 years later with his tail tucked between his legs, expecting for everything to be fine and dandy again. Now, we readers, of course, know that this is not true. Fisher couldn't share where he was. He was stuck in his own personal hell with no way out. And right now, Danya, she better get some fucking answers asap, or else she's gonna run through with her sword. But he cannot give her answers, not with the oath keeping his mouth shut.

[Lexi]

So I have a question. Does Remphus know the truth? Because he certainly seems like he does, and he's also honoring that. Fisher has to be the one to tell, but he's really confused why Fisher is not de. Escalating the situation by just telling them.

[Nicole]

I think he has put as much together as he could without knowing the coin flip or the maze or anything like that. I do think he has assumed that he was with Malcolm, and I think he has an inclination that Bellicon is part of this, too, because even Danya is like, was it Bellicon? And that's huge. The fact that she was.

[Lexi]

Was like.

[Nicole]

Was it the king of the realm? Like, that's like. The fact that they are having these questions means that Belacan is not as fucking sneaky as he thinks he is. But the truth of the matter is, in this moment, Danya doesn't like the fact that Fisher's like, yeah, I can't say anything, even though he's literally like, I can't tell you. And she's like, traitor, let me lop your head off from Wienerwitch.

[Lexi]

And quite the turn of events. Dania Ro raises her sword and aims it at Fisher's throat. And not in, like, a threatening kind of way, like she actually tries to kill him Here. Serious notes that Fisher's shoulders sag, and she can tell that he's made peace with whatever comes next. And Serris is not having it.

[Nicole]

Fisher.

[Lexi]

Oh, my gosh, that's so sad. Raising her hand, Sarah's reaches out, and in her panic, she screams, stop. Dania's body is thrown sideways, and she slams into the table. And in the same same moment, her God sword splinters into a thousand tiny shards, which get flung into the stone so hard that they are embedded a full inch into the wall. Holy shit. This is unheard of.

[Nicole]

And everyone in the room knows it. No one should be able to do this type of magic, except for an alchemist. Surprise.

[Lexi]

Imagine being carried in sweet Swift. Seeing this, he's already like holy shit. But with the extra context of who he is, I bet he's really looking at Sarah's with all new perspective now and like, damn, we've known each other for nine years and you might be the key to our future with your super cool powers.

[Nicole]

Uh huh. I bet you're exactly right. We will later know that by doing this unexpectedly with the sword, this makes serious the most powerful alchemist in history record. Which is awesome news. She gives Lorath and Wren a massive amount of hope that this could mean the turning of the war.

[Lexi]

Huzzah.

[Nicole]

There's one person though, who's not entirely thrilled with this particular alchemist, and that's Danya. Yeah, she's fucking pissed that her God sword while Dormit was destroyed. That sucks.

[Lexi]

It is worth noting again how valuable these godswords are. Even dormant, they are a symbol of status and holiness among the Fae. This sword has been in Dania's family and it is extremely important. Not just to her, but it is a status symbol for her.

[Nicole]

It's marked her rank and status as a member of the Lupa Paralia. It's not really the best first impression on either Dania or Sarus's parts, I will give them that. And they hate each other for the remainder of this book. But again, I feel like we are going to have the tide turned on Dania. Maybe not by the end of Brimstone maybe, but I definitely think by the end of the series.

[Lexi]

But there's no time for this because we need to break some ice, Kristoff style. Every time I think of the ice breaking, all I can think of is the beginning of Frozen. And I loved how we put that song in the playlist and it was like, everybody's gonna know. Like this is so obvious. No, they still found ways to make it when the moon hatched. Anyway, everyone needs to stop what they're doing and they need to go break the ice of the frozen river right now. Now, now. So the dead cannot cross. That's right. Every now and then the feeders from Sanis Roth try their luck going over the frozen river, which is the. Darn. It's Malcolm's way of reminding them that he's there and he's waiting. The warriors on our side have to break the ice to stop the feeders from being able to cross, causing them to fall into the water. The feeders have never made it past halfway, so our crew is breaking the ice with huge sledgehammers and axes. REN3 being the awesome person that he is has magic that sends light explosions into the frozen river to help break the ice. And then another person shoots fire to try to burn the feeders.

[Nicole]

Saris and Carrion. The two major air quotes. Humans are told to stay back. And yeah, that doesn't happen. They're here at the camp after all. They are part of this war whether they like it or not. They both take up arms for different reasons. Reasons, though serious, because she does not like to be sidelined. Yes, she's fucking terrified. She's seen the feeders close up and they were horrifying. But that doesn't stop her from wanting to help with breaking the ice. And then there's Carrion. Ah, Carrion. Have we mentioned he's the heir to fucking Evilia? These are his people fighting a war elongated by the usurper. I think Karion's insistence in fighting this fight is finally for the him tapping into this duty of being a Dianthus. Yes, like we were saying earlier, Carrion is funny. He's laid back, he jokes and he's hard to be taken seriously. But these are one of the few moments where I'm like, oh, his responsibility over Evelia really shines through. And I love how 3D he is, even though he is so funny.

[Lexi]

50,000 bloodthirsty feeders are on the riverbank on the other side. And while some do get taken down by the broken up ice or a fish of smoke that forces them into the river, dragging them into their watery but probably not permanent graves, with the feeders halting their approach across the river, we are introduced to one of the villains of our story. Malcolm the High Fae Vampire King. Oh goodness. Where do we start with Malcolm? He is tall and slender, with straight white hair and blood red eyes. He is stronger than any of the other Vampire Fae. And he alone is strong enough to fully turn someone and ensure they remain themselves.

[Nicole]

Because we are getting into Malcolm the vampires. I want to take a moment and talk about the history of the Blood curse. So I'm going to put on my Professor Lexi hat for a second. A millennia ago, the Fae were cursed by a witch. We don't know which witch, we don't know which witch was which. But it was a witch who somehow used Carrion's father, father's blood, AKA Dianthus blood, to make this curse happen. But as a result of this curse, Fae used to drain humans, drinking them dry of their blood uncontrollably. It wasn't until King Rurik Dianthus Carrion's father, who charged five witch families with the task of finding a cure to the curse. One of these five is the Balcadir clan, who was instrumental in breaking the curse. The Balqadir clan strikes again. Iron really hope I'm pronouncing their name right.

[Lexi]

So timelines are not adding up because it was Carrion's father who figured out the cure, but Fisher's great grandfather took it. So he took the cure that Karion's father created. Like, you would think that'd be more like Karen's great grandfather who found the cure. Or something along those lines. And so we've been noticing this theme of timelines not necessarily always adding up. So we decided to ask Callie for the some clarification.

[Nicole]

So here's what we asked her. Can you provide any clarity on when Kingfisher's father goes through the quicksilver with Carrion in the UK bonus chapter? Is that the same mission he disappeared on when Kingfisher was 10? Was Belacan already king at this point? And here's what Callie said, Quote, would that I could answer this. Maybe you guys will find out in November. Who knows?

[Lexi]

Okay. So I'm at least very glad that it was not a giant plot hole that we were very concerned about. And we did not know how to approach Cali about that. So we are extremely relieved.

[Nicole]

This makes me so excited because, like, what. What is happening here? Oh, my God. That also. That right there tells me. Or maybe not tells me with certainty, but it tells my dulu with certainty that we are meeting finra next book.

[Lexi]

Oh, I don't think he's dead. You have absolutely convinced me.

[Nicole]

Oh, he's definitely not dead. He's Zolvarian. I think that means we're meeting him and we're gonna get his side of the story.

[Lexi]

So I'm also wondering if this inconsistency with the timelines that we are experiencing here. You know, I know we were just talking about the clans and Carrion's father finding the cure and Fisher's great grandfather taking it, but I think that this is all a hint that there are literally multiple timelines. I don't want to say time travel, but kind of. Well, do know. Yeah. That separate timeline lines are possible from that bonus chapter.

[Nicole]

Yeah. So in the bonus chapter, the Gate, I believe, part one, but do not quote me on that. There's a moment where he goes to talk to the twin sun goddesses, but in the distance, he sees Zarith talking to Sarus at the end of this book, and he's like, who's that woman I'm drawn to? And the goddesses are like, that's a different timeline. Exactly that right there. You. Yes, Yes, I am convinced. I am terrified for our Deep Dive brains because I feel like I'm so scared, but I'm so excited.

[Lexi]

I know we're going to read Brimstone and be like, damn it, we need a Deep Dive for this, but it's up to us. That's the exact same thing that happened with Onyx Storm.

[Nicole]

Okay, but back to the Blood curse, because hooray, the curse has been lifted thanks to the Balqadir clan and Rurik. But even with the curse lifted, all Fae still have traces of the vampire fangs and they are still functional. But because Fae don't need blood to maintain immortality or living anymore, the using of those fanes has gone behind closed doors. It's a sex thing that we will be talking about next episode. Because for right now, we are back to Malcolm. Malcolm, who was the very first to be affected by the the curse thousands and thousands and thousands of years ago. Yes, he is that old. But when the cure was found, many of the Avelian Fae took the cure because they were horrified by the monsters they'd become. But then there were those like Malcolm, who loved being the monsters, the immortals, and chose to not take the cure as a result.

[Lexi]

So why is Malcolm here at the darn on the other side of the river? Here with the show of Strength, 50,000 feeders here. The big highlight from this very short exchange is how Malcolm aims to plant a seed of doubt in the warriors trust for their leader, Fisher. Malcolm insinuates in front of all of Fisher's warriors that Fisher has been with Malcolm and he misses him, making it seem like they've been in league together. After all. Danya has already accused him of maybe working with the enemy. I also think it's notable how Malcolm says he'll see Fisher very soon. Because yes, sadly, he is going to use Everlane for bait to come back into his territory. And it is extremely creepy. And concerning how Malcolm uses pet names with Darlene and such.

[Nicole]

Bleh. Boo. You suck, Malcolm. Woof. Well, that was a lot. Perhaps we should go shake it off. Yes. Why don't we go back to Kalash? Kingfisher opens a Shadow Gate and both him and Seiris are suddenly back in his room at Kalish. Now, Kingfisher has brought her here specifically so she could get some distance. Distance from the war camp. He doesn't know if she's Terrified, freak out, or wants to sprint in the opposite direction? He has no idea. And giving them space where they'll be able to be away from things and talk. Yeah, it sounds pretty good. I actually give Kingfisher some major props here.

[Lexi]

I do too.

[Nicole]

Yes, and Serous wants to talk, but she wants to talk about what the fuck just happened. Give me some answers, Kingfisher. She doesn't want to be cut off from the war or the ins and outs of what's happening around her. She, like we talked about earlier, refuses to be sidelined, like we've talked about in episodes one and two. Also, Seyrus is someone who is used to being the most knowledgeable in the room. She's used to having all the answers. And right now she doesn't. And she does not like that.

[Lexi]

We've also been talking at length about how and why Fisher pushes Serris away because he doesn't want them to fall in love. So he's purposefully an extra big ass to her. Like what's. So he's purposefully an extra big ass ass to her. Like what? Seras begins piecing together here in the scene, however, Serious still recognizes that there is something between them. They both want each other. There is this pull to each other. And when Seras makes herself vulnerable and speaks it out loud and that she's tired of fighting it, especially after what she just saw with the war, it terrified her. And she doesn't know how many more days are promised for them, she's ready to give in to what she wants. So how about it, Fisher, to say that's all this male needed to hear. We. Which is permission that she wants him to. Well, that's an understatement. He has wanted her since the moment they met. He has known she is his mate and it has been torture for him to keep her at arm's length. But when she specifically says that she wants him, yeah, all bets are off and he seizes the opportunity.

[Nicole]

Then, with a ragged snarl, Kingfisher kisses serious. Now, really quick, before we get into the sex scene, a friendly reminder that this scene does contain rougher moments and including choking. So please listen only to your comfort level. This is not a soft and sweet sex scene. This is what I can only describe as a I hate you so much that I want to fuck you scene. Literally, as Saera says, quote, we were either going to kill each other or fuck each other. And I'm glad we were both opting for the latter. Me too. Every moment to get to skin is fast and charged and when he finally fingers her, he goes. Goes right for it. Also clenching her neck too. Hello, dark romance. And Savis likes it. Especially when Kingfisher says, quote, My, my, so worked up already. You're slick as hell. What do you taste like? Are you going to scream for me like a good girl when I have you right? My face. Good God, sir. While this is happening, and as they are transitioning to the bed, and by transitioning, I mean he takes her legs out from under her and she. She flops onto the bed. Shadows seem to pour out of Fisher. Now, part of this is to set the scene. Yes, which actually makes me realize the only times they have sex are in the dark. I guess he's just not a lights on kind of guy. He's also definitely a boob guy. But I digress. Anyway, I do wonder if the darkening of the room is also to drown out the outside world. The war is on their doorstep. The paintings in his room are slashed to ribbons. He has this quicksilver constantly in his head, and he wants to just be with her here. He probably doesn't want her thinking about the outside world either. But don't worry about it, Fisher, because I do not think there's any chance in hell of that happening. Because while he's not compelling her at all, which good. That would have been quite the deal breaker. Fisher. She's obeying every one of Fisher's commands. Like, put the soles of your feet on the bed. Let your eggs fall open. Don't you dare fucking finish that sentence about showering. You'd think after covering so many sex scenes on the podcast, I would be more, I'll say numb or used to this. But this scene had me blushing. When I was doing the outline, I was like, aha. And the final command quote, oh, no, little osha, you're going to be looking right at me for this. Look. I'm not breathing. Oh, my God. I do want to note a very important part of this dark romance scene. Just like we covered during the kiss scene in the Forge last episode. God, I can't believe that was only last episode. Fisher cares about making sure his partner, Sarah, specifically, is consenting. When Saera said, let me go back in the Forge, he obliged, full stop. And here, right before he slides on in, he checks in, asking, you still want this? To which Sarris consists sense. And Kingfisher does not hold back or ease his way in at all. No. Boom. Again, this scene isn't a slow and tender sex scene. This is a. I hate how much I Want to you. And homeboy is impatient also.

[Lexi]

So much foreshadowing in the scene for them being mates. How serious is pulled to him like he's the trap and she is well and truly snared.

[Nicole]

I do want to take a moment of appreciation for the tattoos that we see on. On display here. And more specifically, like, the magic of the tattoos. While the ink from Kingfisher's tattoos swirl and then expand and flow into Sarah's, traveling up her own arm and then onto her chest. Holy. This magic is so cool.

[Lexi]

I remember when I read that for the very first time and I was like, oh.

[Nicole]

Like, yes.

[Lexi]

I had never seen anything like that before, reading in a fantasy. And I was like, oh, my God, the tattoos can move with their heavy sex. Yeah, that's so cool.

[Nicole]

No, exactly. I never read anything like this. This whole scene is just chef's kiss. Like, brava, Callie. Goddamn. You know how to write a bad boy hate fuck.

[Lexi]

So naturally, right after you bang it out together, pretending like you hate each other, you get up and leave, Right?

[Nicole]

That's Fisher's method.

[Lexi]

Anyway. He has a lot of things to take care of. Okay, Yeah. A very long to do list, presumably after the attack. And even Malcolm's hints about Fisher. He. He's. This is a fun little detour. And he does want to ensure that Sarah stays here. I think he's more spooked at what happened at the Darn than he's letting on. And he wants to keep Sarah's away from the front lines of this war for her own good, knowing how spooked that she is as well. And for safety. Plus, he's probably still set on keeping some distance from her. Even after what just happened. Happened.

[Nicole]

Especially after what just happened. I hate to do this because I just geeked over Fisher so hard, but I am absolutely giving him an L. Because after they fuck, he dresses and tells her to sleep here for the night. And here's why I'm giving him the L. Because when she asks if she has any say in the matter, he says, quote, not really. In addition to my frustration towards a sexy man, something else arises the next day when she comes back to Irene. She's like, kingfisher. Where the fuck do I have a tattoo? Right above her fucking boob sits a bird tattoo that transitioned from her skin when they were having sex the night prior. I have a million questions. One, is this just a mates thing? Like, as they get closer, their tattoos come alive?

[Lexi]

I don't know. I will say when was happening. He did not. Not Expect it. And he was all like, oh.

[Nicole]

But even she tried to pull away and he, like, he, like, put her hand back on him because he was like, no, feel me. Number two, is this any normal bird or is this a kingfisher bird? Bird watches here. Kingfisher birds are symbols of peace and prosperity and the courage to dive deeper.

[Lexi]

A.

[Nicole]

In Celtic lore, the kingfisher fisher is both of water and air and was considered a messenger of sorts.

[Lexi]

Oh, I 100 think that's what this bird is. It also seems to be in the approximate same place as this wolf tattoo.

[Nicole]

Right above the boob. Absolutely. And number three, that actually is like.

[Lexi]

The worst place to have an unwanted tattoo. No regrets.

[Nicole]

You're so right. Because this isn't like a side rib tattoo where it's like, oh, like, you know, when I wear a shirt, it's fine. But yeah, like the one that I.

[Lexi]

Got when I was 18.

[Nicole]

That's what you're referring to? Cause I'm actually just about to talk about it. No, I'm so sorry. I really was not referring to that.

[Lexi]

Dad likes to call it a turkey.

[Nicole]

Okay, I guess I. I have to.

[Lexi]

Tell my story real quickly. Please.

[Nicole]

So my tattoo.

[Lexi]

So my very first tattoo that I got, I was 18. It's a bird tattoo. It's a swallow bird because they represent traveling and leaving home, but they always know where home is. Sailors used to get these swallow birds tattooed on them for this very reason. And as an 18 year old, I loved the concept of exploring but always knowing where home was. So I wanted to get that tattoo on me.

[Nicole]

My favorite is dad calling it a turkey.

[Lexi]

He was specifically, he's like, someday you're gonna be pregnant. And he also. Our dad told us never to get a tattoo, so he was very. Oops.

[Nicole]

We both have multiple.

[Lexi]

That's a tattoo.

[Nicole]

Sorry, dad.

[Lexi]

At least I told him about the later ones. Anyway, I digress.

[Nicole]

That's right. You didn't tell him about it.

[Lexi]

I had to tell him the day before. We went to the beach over a year later and speak to me for a little bit. Oh, but that said, like, once when I get pregnant, I'm. It's gonna to turn into a turkey. And then I got pregnant and then it went back to how it was. Like, it very shockingly, was fine after two pregnancies. And I felt so smug.

[Nicole]

Look, dad, it's still a bird. I love your swallow bird. And one of my favorite things was mom also saying that she loved it and then us telling us not to tell dad. Now, this is not the same tattoo. That is the navy and green Metallica tattoo that we will see next episode. Since those are the God binding runes with Kingfisher and Sarus. So this is just like a completely different tattoo that we are entirely just scratching the surface of.

[Lexi]

I think so, yes. Because the other tattoos, those are like, only real mates get those.

[Nicole]

Oh, my God, I can't wait. Quick side note, I love how in the scene, Seiris is all like, well, why don't I go and cover this tattoo up with another tattoo? And Kingfisher tries to say, quote, wouldn't bother me. And then he gets cut off by clearing his throat. He can't lie. And he was about to lie by saying, wouldn't bother me because obviously it would, because a. It's the Fisher tattoo. It's a tattoo that says, hi, that's mine. And then it's also. It would mean another person looking at her.

[Lexi]

Oh, I hadn't thought about that. Later on, when we find out that he trained with Ren, Training went very rough because Fisher was in a bad mood. I assume it's because she wanted to get rid of the tattoo.

[Nicole]

I think it's because he slept with the girl he promised he wouldn't sleep with. I mean, that too, I suppose.

[Lexi]

With the parting words of find the forge and get to work, Fisher leaves Sarah's to, well, find the forge and get to work. After 30 minutes of searching for this forge because he did not tell her.

[Nicole]

Where it was, like, this should not be as funny as it, I know.

[Lexi]

Serris finally finds the forge, which is basically a barn halfway up the small steep hillside behind the camp. Then Ceres notices that yet again, Fisher has hidden the quicksilver. After searching and searching for it, she taps into her alchemy magic and listens. And that's when Ceres hears a voice that's barely a whisper. She's learning, so she follows the pull. She feels farther up the mountain to a small rocky plateau, where she finds the one and only Carrion Swift reading a book and holding the vial of quicksilver. Back in the forge, the experiments continue. And still no luck. Three more failed attempts. I just want to yell through the pages, sarris, your angle is not working. She is thinking like a human without magic, combining elements to be the magic when it's her who can guide it. And I think Fisher knows this. He knows she has has to embrace her own magic and try to think out of the box, because it's obviously there. Even though he does not know the solution himself. I don't fault Saris for thinking like a human because she is one. She has absolutely no concept of what she's supposed to do. So she's falling on what she knows. But it is also worth pointing out that she keeps having these failed attempts because she's using elements that are familiar to her in her human state.

[Nicole]

And I love that. That it's Carrion who is quote unquote human who tells her to start thinking like a Fae. Basically.

[Lexi]

Yeah.

[Nicole]

Which is so good. Not the best day for Saris's confidence as a blacksmith. The stress of the relics. It's weighing on her. But you know what? Let's up the ante a little bit. Because back in the Lupo Pro Alia tent, Serious is looking at 563 tiny little shards that were once done sword. And they've got a new task for this extremely powerful alchemist. Can you reforge the sword? And while you're at it, why not make the sword draw magic again? Hold on.

[Lexi]

So remember that just having a new sword made for Dania is not an option. This sword was too special. Forged by the ancient alchemy and masters in which these kind of swords are religious icons to the fae. But that also means this sword was forged with trace amounts of quicksilver. Which is why it answer to Sarah's when she said stop. Why it shattered instead of hurt. Fisher. This is when we learned what we discussed last episode about alchemy and quicksilver. It's the quicksilver that responds to Ceres. Because quicksilver was bound to many different alloys and metals a long time ago. Back when there were plenty of alchemists. And with the portals between worlds open, weapons were more powerful. And they were conduits that could channel vast amounts of magic. And which makes it even more notable that Nimmerel still works. It still has magic in it.

[Nicole]

It.

[Lexi]

But anyway, knowing that it's the quicksilver bound to many different metals and that is what Ceres can control. Means something else too. Most alchemists could only command objects if the item had more than 5% quicksilver. And even then, they could only transmute the quicksilver from solid to liquid state to be forged. There are no records of objects like Dania's sword being fragmented. Like what Saris just did. And this makes her the most powerful alchemy alchemist ever. Because she is able to control metal with far less than 5% quicksilver. Making her able to change the course of this war with her to be determined well of magic.

[Nicole]

Now as Much as I would love to say that this is just Ren and Lorath's full fate in Seira's capabilities, that's not entirely true. There is a desperation for needing a change of the tide in this war. Every day Malcolm's horde grows larger with more Fae becoming feeders, some of those Fae who were on the Evilian side of the war. So not only are Malcolm's numbers growing, but also the numbers on their side are dwindling. And on top of that, even their own leader doesn't seem to give a fuck about the war anymore. Belacan has stopped sending supplies to the front. They are running out of wood for fire, food, clothes and weapons. Now we know there's more to the story with Bellacon not sending supplies. But Ren and co though don't fully know that yet. So with the way that things are, they have max 12 months before they are completely overrun and this centuries long war is finally over. So yeah, an outcome where magical alchemist comes and makes swords that turn the tide of the war sounds pretty great to me.

[Lexi]

I love that part where Ren is like, yeah, I will take this unlikely option over what's obviously not working. It feels like a medical call out to fantasy books and FMCs in them. And I found that funny because he's like, yeah, if a human girl who has magical powers is suddenly gonna cure and save us all, sure, I'll hop on board with that.

[Nicole]

We don't have anything else to lose.

[Lexi]

But it is also important to note how Cirrus is terrified by the notion that so much faith is placed in her. She does not know how to do any of this magic. And now they're relying on her to turn the tides of a war. Let's sit down and have whiskey instead. With one of the new side characters we've to been able introduced to at this work camp, Lorath. He's drinking here with Saris, who's very spooked by the impending doom and the pressure on her as their last hope. And I love getting to know his character and his connection to Fisher.

[Nicole]

Which speaking of, once upon a time, Lorath was a traveling singer. But it turns out he was much better than killing than he ever was at performing. One day he was attacked by two hungry vampires and they saw this lonely scrawny kid with a loot and thought he looked like a snack. And not a snack like Kingfisher snack, snack like snack. And left him behind in a ditch to die. And that's when Kingfisher found him. They were miles away from anywhere that could help him and the others with. Fisher said it would be best to just put him out of his misery. But Fisher refused. Fisher carried him back to Kalash through a Shadow Gate. But even then, the odds were stacked against him. The healer said he had more venom in blood in his veins at this point. And while they had the best healers, there were limits to what they could heal. So they advised Fisher to leave Lorath to die, and they would bury him underneath a tree in one of the fields that bordered the estate.

[Lexi]

And here we get another big Lord drop story of our lives with this deep dive. Oh, my goodness. No complaints from me, though. To keep this poor bard from dying, Fisher gave Lorath part of his soul. Yes, you heard that right. It's an ancient right that very few people know how to perform. But once, Fisher's father almost died, and a friend used it to save him. So Fisher's father made sure Fisher knew the proceedings of this ancient rite too, in case he would have to use it someday to save the life of someone important to him. Okay, crack theory. Did Fisher's mother, who was an oracle, see something with Lorath in his future and that's why he wanted to save this person?

[Nicole]

I sure as hell believe that now. Also this person who. Who Fisher's father is attached to. I guarantee you we're gonna meet them at some point.

[Lexi]

Let's talk about what exactly that means to give someone part of your soul. Because you betcha this has to come up again in the series. Like what a random little thing just to plop on in here and then not talk about again. Fisher bonded a small part of himself to the scrap of life clinging to Lorath, and that was that. Lorath was close to death, but when that happened with Fisher, death loosened its cross grip. So when Fisher left again, Lorath got muscly and in fighter condition. The big takeaway here is the concept of soulbinding. If Lorath dies first, the peace of Fisher's soul returns to him and he becomes whole again. That sounds like very ominous foreshadowing for our poor boy Loreth. But anyway, if Fisher dies first, he's condemned to wait for Lorath to die before he can move on, which would be absolutely horrible and makes us the reader's ears perkins up. But don't worry, Lorath, who is so grateful for what Fisher did, will not let that be Fisher's end. If Fisher dies first, he will end himself, so Fish's soul can be whole in the afterlife. I think all this is really gonna come back in the story. Big time.

[Nicole]

Oh God, I'm scared. I'm really scared for Lorath now.

[Lexi]

I know. Me too.

[Nicole]

Lorath is just full of downloads because we get more information about the Oath Bound Fae and what it means. Means, previous to this conversation, all we knew was that the Fae like Fisher were unable to lie because they were something called Oathbound. Which basically meant diddly squat to Serous. But with Lorath, we learned that when a Fae turns 21, they kneel before the fur and stone and make a choice. Either bleed on the stone and make a vow that you'll always be truthful. Being bound by their word forever, no matter what it costs them. So being Oathbound Fae means you cannot lie. Like they are physically incapable of breaking their word or telling a lie. Which means they get really, really good at skirting the truth. Or they can choose the lawless path where they can lie, steal and cheat. But it comes at a price most are not willing to pay their honor. What does that mean? We're not entirely sure. But I guarantee you we're gonna find out. This does bring me to a question. Serous is now Fae. Ish. But she's 24. So will she need to choose between Oathbound or Lawless?

[Lexi]

She's kind of Fae, but more vampire. I don't think she'd count, to be honest.

[Nicole]

Okay, I. I think they've got bigger fish to fry than go to the.

[Lexi]

Furries who have bigger problems. Two days later, Fisher has a surprise for Ceres. Aw, this is one of the cutest scenes. He takes her somewhere entirely different. Different to a quaint small village called Ballard, where his mother is from. If you look at Ballard on the map, it is very far away from Kalish and the war zone. It's in the whole other territory of Galaria. And it's not too far from Gilthry, where Fisher tried to save the people. And that's where he entered the bargain with Malcolm and Belcon 110 years ago. And tonight, Ballard is celebrating the longest night of the year with a festival. It is a starkly different landscape from the war camp. This village is full of land, life, with bright lights twinkling in the trees, flowers everywhere, children playing. There's music in the air and the smell of delicious food and merry voices of all kinds of species. Seris comments that this is the kind of home and community she's always wanted for her and her brother. A place to safely and simply live in peace.

[Nicole]

But why are these two here?

[Lexi]

And no Seras? It's not to fucking attack These people again, always assuming the worst. Fisher says it's because. Because they have something he needs. What's more, though, this change of scenery was so necessary for both of them, individually and together, they need to be somewhere that is celebrating life and offering hope, illuminating the joy that still exists in this world and shows what they're fighting for after the tough past few days. Fisher knows Sarris's heart needs this. But Fisher needs it probably even more. He loves this village. It's the second home to Hemi, though it's been a very long time since he's been here. And he's so loved and welcomed here, as we'll see with how Wendy and everyone else treats him. He wants to show Ceres this place that he loves. Where his mother is from.

[Nicole]

The entire trip to Ballard is a real turning point for Kingfisher and Saerus's relationship. This is the first time he's bringing her somewhere. Not because she's an alchemist or because he needs her for the war efforts. No, he's kind of taking her on a date. I'm swooned. I'm so happy. I also want to point out that he's got his dark green fit. Check on the black clothed Fisher who's the outcast, the asshole, death, the war leader. This is now the dark hunter green wearing Fisher. This is the real Fisher. The Fisher who's trying to come back to himself, where they can laugh and talk and even smile. The gasp. Yes, Fisher is smiling. He's relaxed in this place full of life. And slowly, Seirys is relaxing too. She's asking him questions. Not to irk him or demand answers or to win a contest that she's created in her mind, but instead because she's curious. And he begins to open up his answers with her too. But that doesn't mean his openness is all warm and fuzzy. He also opens up about his fears and shame around being the Lord of Kalish. And more specifically, how he doesn't want to be the Lord of Kalish, how he feels like he's failed his people and that he's the Lord of nothing. Fisher and big emotional breakthrough moment for these two. Because as Sarah starts to reach out for him, to comfort him, she starts to think the worst of him. Starts to think about him turning her down. Him mocking her for, you know, her offering support to him, him. But then she pauses and challenges that thought, thinking that if he does do that, then him she can have the courage to reach out for him. The walls are coming down, folks. I'm so happy.

[Lexi]

Toward the end of the splendid evening, something strange happens though, as Saris and Fisher are having an adorable conversation about him now having reason to smile because she's in his life. That's why when Sarah thinks how he's always, always suffering the words Anorath Mor, Anarath mor repeat fast, loud and full of terror, Saris basically blacks out and snaps back into it a few moments later with Fisher staring at her, pale and in shock. This episode that Saris has will lead the two of them to leave the evening's festivities and go to Fisher's home. More on that next episode, Fisher will ask Sarris why she said that phrase. Anrath more serious assumes it's because she must have said it out loud. But. But we think differently. We think it was the first time that they read each other's minds. While we don't find out on the page what Anorath Mor means quite yet, we've still got a ways to go before that. We are certainly familiar with this phrase already. From the quicksilver coming into contact with Ceres skin back at the Winter Palace Forge. This moment happens when Cerus is letting her guard down with Fisher and understanding him. Like Nicole said, their walls are coming down with each other, which makes me think this incident is like a bridge into his mind's trauma. Kind of like she is reading his mind. The quicksilver is going crazy when he's expressing that smiling is getting easier. We have to remember what Kelly literally just told us, that every time the quicksilver is going crazy, it means that it is very active and so it's starting to say Anarath more, Anarath more. So what if the quicksilver is turning up its torment with Anorath More to bring Fisher down in this moment, that he's trying to be happy. And because they're connecting more, Serris then hears it too. Let's tap into our Inner Oracle and turn our full attention to other important foreshadowing moments for the rest of this book as well as speculations for book two. Brimstone.

[Nicole]

All the mentions of Nimarelle House. Me wanting to point out that N. Morel means for Morel. Why is this the case? Because when Morel died at the Battle of Adam Legend Gate, we learn that her and Fisher danced around feelings for each other for a long time. And when she died, he got the God Sword and decided to name it Nimarel. For Morel.

[Lexi]

Oh.

[Nicole]

As Seiris is working on experiments, she uses a spring of an herb labeled Widowsbane. We will See that herb? Later this book, when Seras hits the water so hard that her ribs break and she takes Widowsbane from Lorath to numb it out.

[Lexi]

So, a quick plant watch here for widowsbane. In our real life, it commonly refers to monkshood or wolfsbane, which is a genius of highly poisonous flowering plants found in the Northern hemisphere. Also, Widowsbane is a rock group from our hometown, Boulder, Colorado.

[Nicole]

Nicole, are you serious?

[Lexi]

That was the very first thing that popped up, and then I had to clarify it was a plant.

[Nicole]

There's this moment at dinner where Saras points out that B. Bellicon's desire to have an embargo on silver, then refusing to help the war, makes absolutely fucking no sense. And Kingfisher's body goes taut, his knuckles white, his nostrils flaring, and then he exhales and loosens again. This is him internally saying, yeah, it makes no sense because Bellacon is working with the enemy. But alas, he cannot say it. And I want to point out that Cerus thinks about asking him further questions, but then decides against it because she's convinced that he would be cruel if she did. Again, Kingfisher is giving Seyres ample opportunities to believe that he is an asshole. And she believes it. But it's also. Notice how Kalash is dripping in gold. Do you think that an alchemist used to live here and they made the gold? We know from Rosarius last episode that alchemists used to make gold and silver in order to make lords richer. Could that have happened in Kalash and, like, been Kingfisher's ancestors?

[Lexi]

Maybe. Well, it would have been the alchemist working for Kingfisher's ancestors. Or to your point there too. They could maybe be an alchemist, and maybe. I hadn't thought about that. Yeah.

[Nicole]

Okay. After Sayris gets scratched by the feeders, she's in Fisher's arms. She sees stars surrounding Fisher's head, and it almost looks like a crown. Do you think that this is this foreshadowing? Or at least some kind of like, wink, wink, hint, hint for us? King Fisher's name is not really King Fisher, but there has to be a connection between his name, starting with the word king, and then this seemingly throwaway line.

[Lexi]

I agree with you. But also, what about the Kingfisher bird?

[Nicole]

I think it's multiple meanings.

[Lexi]

What? In a book I know we're introduced to Ty Lenna, the healer in Kalash, who has helps Kingfisher regularly with the quicksilver within him. She will continue popping up in the story. Serris will definitely become jealous of her. And she will be the one to accidentally and unknowingly reveal a big, big, big secret to Ceres. So many.

[Nicole]

Carrion Swift is Fae foreshadowing moments in this stretch. At dinner, Karion tells Ren all about the fighting techniques used in Sylvarin. And Serious thinks that he's making half of this shit up because it's so very detailed. No, no. I think that this is a nice little Karian as Fae nod. Because since he's been alive for a thousand years, he's had a long time to observe the fighting styles of the Guardians. He's also very light on his feet, much to Sarys surprise as he's training with Ren. Yeah, Fae.

[Lexi]

It also really warms my heart that Karion is finally training with Fae warriors. He has been alone for so long. Over a thousand thousand years. And yeah, he's not as good as Remphes, but he isn't afraid to learn. And I'm just so happy and proud for our boy Carrion.

[Nicole]

Same then when Seiris comes into the war tent after making out with Fisher, Carrion grins at her quote. The suggestive way he grinned made me think he could smell what I'd been up to as well. But that wasn't possible. Our human noses weren't that sensitive.

[Lexi]

Nope.

[Nicole]

But a Fae noses.

[Lexi]

During the group dinner Kingfisher acts a little, little privileged about not having to fight for something as trivial as water. It's an ignorant thing to say, as Carrion points out. But they also discuss the fighting pits in the third. And I can't help but wonder, like everything else we learned about Zalvarin, if these Phyton pits will be introduced when Karion and Fisher go back to that realm. I also guarantee Fisher will be humbled with the whole water situation. Can't you imagine him being like, I need water. And Carrion's like, Tough luck dude. And he's like, what is this place?

[Nicole]

I fucking hate it here. It's so hot. Fisher's gonna hate Zolvarin and I love it. I just have no idea. What if like different realms? Time works differently in each realm. So like a day in Zilvarin is three days in Evilia.

[Lexi]

Oh my God. I still don't know how that would match with the whole timeline situation in the bonus chapter, but me neither. Love that idea.

[Nicole]

I'm just so much throwing that out there. When Serous tells Fisher that she was sterilized when she was 14 and is unable to have children, Fisher has a very strange charged reaction where he becomes really short with her. We will learn in the maze that Fisher is furious that Madra did this. While it's not stated on the page, I wonder if he's sad and angry that him and his mate will never be able to have kids. Or at least angry that the decision was ripped away away from them. Like all other decisions feel like they are with them.

[Lexi]

Yes, I think that's it. Yeah.

[Nicole]

Yeah.

[Lexi]

So when Fisher enters Sarah's for the first time, he's all like, witch.

[Nicole]

You do have magic. Yeah, he says it just like that. Like, see, you're a witch.

[Lexi]

Witch. Witch. But this is a very good question.

[Nicole]

He calls her a witch.

[Lexi]

Why is he calling her a witch? A witch. Alchemy magic. Like we know she has witch.

[Nicole]

All I can see is some and him being like a witch. A witch. Yeah, I definitely think that's got something to do with. But I don't think she's part witch.

[Lexi]

No. But I wonder how. Because we know that witch magic does work differently. It's spells and things like that.

[Nicole]

But we know Fisher has a little bit of witch magic in him because his mother gave him powers. As he states in the bonus chapters.

[Lexi]

But why is he calling her a witch?

[Nicole]

He's just comparing her to his mom.

[Lexi]

Oh God, he's.

[Nicole]

Anyway, we get another interesting bit of info from Karion. As he's reading the Fae book called Fae Creatures of the Galarian Mountains. He drops that the Avelian Fae are the youngest Fae house. Quote, there was a dispute between two brothers and they splintered off to make their own court.

[Lexi]

It's things like this that make me think this is where Ceres could be from. That her lineage can be tracked back to these two brothers. However, she is innately connected to Winter, which makes me think want to say that she's of Evilia, which would mean the Dianthus life line. But I bet against that. So I gotta find every opportunity I can to say other things. I love the idea of her lineage being even older than Yvelia. Especially with like those ancient alchemists and whatnot. And so I think that could also be partly why her power is so great. On a similar note as Galaria, that territory is where the Autumn Court is. With four territories total in this realm, I think the Seasonal Courts are located in each territory. Gavelia is the Winter Court. Galaria is the Auto Autumn Court. Santa's Wrath is a wasteland. So I don't know which court used to be there. But Lycia is either spring or summer. It definitely has some beautiful looking Trees.

[Nicole]

On the map, we get the infamous Kingfisher. Don't call her Sunshine monologue when shutting down Carrion calling SARS Sunshine. Kingfisher says Carrion shouldn't call her that because, quote, she is moonlight. The mist that shrouds the mountains, the bite of electricity in the air. Air before a storm. The smoke that rolls across the battlefield before the killing starts. You have no idea what she is, what she could be. You should call her Majesty. Whoa, okay. Majesty. Nice foreshadowing there for us readers for her being the Queen of Sennisroth at the end of this book. But why does King Fisher want her to be called Majesty? Other than the literary foreshadowing that maybe Saver is being being royal in more than what she just is in Sanis Roth, being Dianthus and all this kind of stuff. I don't think Kingfisher would know anything about that, though. Actually, I'm positive Kingfisher wouldn't know anything about that though, since the only way he would know would be probably from the oracle mom that he had. And. But he does mention how Sarah's was only mentioned towards the end of the book. She left him. So I don't know. I don't know. But I also think that it's rich that Kingfisher is saying this to these. The sole heir, at least that we know of, of Dianthus.

[Lexi]

Let me also just point out how much he believes in her here. He knows what she is capable of. Like, not actually knows it, but knows that she is capable of so much. And so that is why he is pushing her to her limits with all the quicksilver and telling her, you could do it. You could do the whole forge thing.

[Nicole]

And she's like, you, God, I love him. Oh my God. All the blood, sex, drinking, foreshadowing that we're gonna become very familiar with. Early next episode, we finally get the.

[Lexi]

First on the page mention of Saracei. I don't know if I am pronouncing her name correctly. Queen at the Lycian Fae, who we have talked about in the pod, but I gotta dive into this here. Her mother saved her life when she was a child, and 180 years later her mother was murdered and the daughter rose to power, deciding to live forever. She takes tonics and elixirs and is rumored to drink, drink vampire blood to extend her life. Almost 3000 years have passed since her mother died, and Saracei doesn't look a day over 30. Meanwhile, her mother's spirit has been chained to her like it was a soul binding, forced to witness the world of the living without being able to interact with it. Also, the name Saracei sounds a lot like our fmc. Just pointing that out.

[Nicole]

Well, and remember that Everlane called her Lys before she knew her name was Sarah.

[Lexi]

Yeah.

[Nicole]

How interesting.

[Lexi]

How very interesting.

[Nicole]

There is a moment in Ballard where the wind itself almost seems to be sentient. A chilled wind blew, shaking icy fingers down the back of my shirt and making me shiver. I thought there had been a blast of wind anyway, but the air seemed strangely still all of the sudden, as if the world were holding its breath. Could this be an interesting, mysterious callback to the Far Wind religion?

[Lexi]

So, Zavarren, I'm much more inclined to say yes with this one than the other.

[Nicole]

Okay, that's fair.

[Lexi]

I think you'll like my next one too. In reference to Zilvaren. When Ceres introduces her full name to Wendy, Wendy immediately cuts her off, identifying Ceres as a Sylvarian girl because Wendy felt the gates open again. There was a buzzing in the air the day that she felt that. This feels so notable for Wendy's magic in character. Even Sarris points it out. She's like, wow. Like, that's pretty impressive that she was able to do that. And second, was it serious name that made Wendy know she was from Zelvarin? Or can Wendy sense where someone is from and that's part of her magic? Or did she recognize the last name? Or is this part of the connection to Seras having a Fae name? How does Wendy know Sarris Fane equals Zelvarin? And how did she know the portal opened from Zelvarin? They are a tiny village. Did news really spread that fast? I don't think so.

[Nicole]

I don't think so either. I. I'm watching you, Wendy.

[Lexi]

I know, but in a good way.

[Nicole]

But in like a cool way. Like, I'm really impressed by you. I want to be when I grow up.

[Lexi]

It's such a small moment in Ballard, but when Fisher says to Wendy that he hopes to open the trade lines up again soon, he's of course talking about the quicksilver portals and being able to trade again with other realms. Nicole Cole I can already hear the politics and economics of the trading plot lines in the rest of the series. And we might have a whole universe of spice.

[Nicole]

Watch. One can only dream, Lexi. One can only dream in the apartment in Balor that we will get much more into next episode. There is a moment where Seiris almost pulls down a sheet that is covering a painting. And then Kingfisher stops her. I have a fairy. What if. If the painting was of his father and mother, and if Seirs had pulled it down, Finryn's face would have been recognizable as someone she knew back in the Third. It wouldn't be out of the question that Finryn stayed close to Carrion in order to keep an eye on him. And given that Sarris and Karion ran in close circles, she might know him or at least see him in passing.

[Lexi]

That would have to be quite the glamour he has. Fisher's father would stick out like a sore thumb in Zalvarin, and Carrion is already known for being a big, bulky guy.

[Nicole]

That does put quite a hole in my theory. Okay, fine. I won't make a bet on it. Now it is time for us to enter Rosarius Library. Don't forget to your crackers where each episode Lexi guides us through a world building topic to help us deepen our understanding of this world and its magic.

[Lexi]

Today's Rosarius Library topic is Godswords. Godswords are weapons forged by the ancient alchemists with the use of quicksilver, and they are so valuable that they are considered religious icons to the fae. When the gods left Yvelia, certain elements of the magic either died or waned. Over time, the God Swords were very, very slowly cut off from the source of the magic that they channeled, which this is why it's called a God Sword. The gods were their source of magic. Most, but not all of the God Swords went dead when the quicksilver closed. So while they hold the name and prestige of their previous power, a God Sword, they are essentially glorified paperweights at this point. Still very good weapons, but not powerful and extra magical weapons. Only the person sealed to a godsword, the person who is the rightful owner of the godsword, can touch an active alchemist sword. Otherwise you will be extremely hurt, like your hand bursting and losing your hand, or having your skin charred to a crisp where it touched the metal. Alchemy and swords can also be used to close and lock the quicksilver portals. So forging one of these swords is not really any different from forging a regular sword for the most part. There are several steps that are different though that make a very big difference. For example, before the metal that has been combined with quicksilver camera can be forged into a new weapon, the alchemist has to get the quicksilver to agree to become this weapon. If the quicksilver agrees to become a weapon, there's still no guarantee that the Person who commissioned the sword will even become the person sealed to the sword. Like we see with Dania and Lorath. The sword accepted Lorath's song and decided that Lorath was going to be its owner. So Lorath is sealed to that God sword and poor Dania's shit out of luck. Once the sword is forged and it's gotten its Horizon hilt and pommel, it's time to complete whatever bargain the alchemist made with the quicksilver. And if that all goes well, and the quicksilver accepts its new owner, it's time for the owner to name it after it's been named. We see a couple of different things happened for Lorath. The moment he finishes speaking its name, a blue flame rippled down the sword's blade, searing runes into the metal in its wake alongside the blade. Ah, that's so cool. And then a white light erupted from his godsword, shooting straight up into the air, causing the ground to quake. Ah. Like it was channeled by magic. By the gods. We're still learning so much about these God swords, and specifically the magic that they have. We know of several swords at this time, so let's go through the known God swords. We, of course, have Nemrel sealed to Kingfisher. It is a black blade that gives off smoke when Kingfisher wields it. The blade used to shine brilliant silver and still carries a kernel of magic in the blade. As the centuries have passed, Nyerl has blackened and tarnished. It's believed that the spirit of the sword, or the magic inside it, stayed when the other God swords abandoned their owners. But doing so had a cost. And now Nimarel is corrupted. I have so many questions about that. But anyway, keep going on. Solace was previously sealed to Kingfisher's father and is now wielded by Ceres. As far as we know, its pommel is embellished, polished with a crescent moon. The horns of the crescent so close that they almost touch to form a whole circle. Huh? Almost. Like Fisher said that she is moonlight, not sunshine. How interesting that she is connected to the moon in many ways. Script writing flows around the hilt of Solace, down over the cross guard and along the edge of the blade, written in old Fae. Ceres was able to touch the sword when it was not thought to be possible. And then we have a vision. The unsung Song, Redemption's Dawn. Sealed to Lorath, or will be sealed to Lorath. And its power is Angel's breath. This was the first time in a thousand years a godsword had found a Yuvalian worthy and granted him magic to defend his people before the sword would later be sealed To Lorath, it was Dania's sword that Sarah shattered and will soon be reforged. It was passed down to her after her father's death. To her, this sword was a precious Fae error heirloom and Danya's birthright.

[Nicole]

It is time to close out this episode with Prancing through the Snow with Onyx to discuss our favorite moments from this stretch of chapters.

[Lexi]

I know I already mentioned this a little bit, but it is so fun to see how magic weaves into everything in this world that Callie has created. She doesn't shy away from magical elements. There is so much of it, from the sheets that just stay clean to the different levels of the houses. And he's just like, it's just magic. I love how much of it there is and it's not a big deal. I'm not even going to try to figure out like the behind the scenes of how the magic works and all that kind of stuff, because it's not really needed. Like, magic is just there and you.

[Nicole]

Kind of just accept it. Yes. Kingfisher's horse being named Bill. I never knew how so desperately I needed this hilarious line in a fantasy book.

[Lexi]

This might be my favorite part of the whole Bill. It reminds me of Geralt and his horse Roach.

[Nicole]

Well, and how every horse is named Roach, not just one.

[Lexi]

That's totally something Kingfisher would do too.

[Nicole]

Oh my God, everything about Archer. I need this fire sprite protected at all costs.

[Lexi]

Truly, everything about him is just so wonderful. From his intro to how he is with Sarah sitting on Fish's right. To how she's like, oh yeah, we were moving furniture and he doesn't believe.

[Nicole]

Her for a second.

[Lexi]

He's like, well, here's some. Here's some snacks to help after he moved furniture. Wink, wink.

[Nicole]

And how he was scratching Onyx's belly when Savers came out and Onyx was like on his back, just four legs up in the air. Oh my God. I want to point out that in the center of the dining table in the dining room, there's an arrangement of purple and pink flowers. The colors purple, pink and also blue keep coming up in moments with Kingfisher and Seiris being alone. And what other thing do we associate with pink, purple and blue? The Osha butterfly. Oh, so good. While at dinner, serious looks at Kingfisher's canines and gets like, super turned on. And then Kingfisher smells it and then he opens the his mouth a fraction wider, pulling his top lip back to reveal more of his teeth. And all I can picture is like, I'm just like in the middle of dinner. This may not be my favorite funny moment, but I love this little bit of insight this gives us into Kingfisher. When she's in his room, she sees the paintings surrounding his bed are all slashed to ribbons. It's just such good show. Don't tell for us readers of how bad the quicksilver is getting in Kingfisher's mind. Carrion Swift is in Evilia for five seconds and he's already getting jerked off by three. Three water sprites. What a legend.

[Lexi]

The whole story about the bath and the boots and getting scrubbed raw so Fisher doesn't have to smell seris on him anymore. Like, it's so priceless. I love just those little bits of humor that are in this very dark book.

[Nicole]

Speaking of Karion, while he's training with Ren, he says that his ass can't take any more of this, meaning getting thrown to the ground. And Sarah laughs and says, I bet that's the first time he's ever said those words. And then carrying Quicks back with, I'm more of a giver than a receiver.

[Lexi]

Actually.

[Nicole]

While we're talking about favorite Carrion moments, him explaining to Kingfisher that he's more of a legit logistics guy and how that means he's really good at moving things from one place to another place is priceless.

[Lexi]

And then Fisher's like, so there are other asses to do that. Like you are describing a donkey.

[Nicole]

Seeing quiche in the story brought me so much joy. For those who do not know, Lexi and I, for as long as we can remember, every Christmas, our dad, dad makes this quiche. And it has been known in our family as one of like the best meals of the year. And seeing it in a story pop up made me so happy. In Ballard, we learned that betel biscuits are some of Fisher's favorites. And Wendy has been making them for years and waiting for him to finally show up so he can have one.

[Lexi]

Every fantasy book needs a Wendy. I love her and she's such a mother hen. And how Fisher is this fierce Fae warrior who is just fussed over and he really loves the love. Like, let's be honest, the way he laughs in her presence and Sarah's realizes his laughter is her favorite sound in the whole world.

[Nicole]

Well, also in the Fox, the Boots, the Dress bonus chapter, we learn why metal biscuits are some of Fisher's favorites. It's because Archer used to leave them under his pillow when he got his first teeth when he was young. Protect Archer at all costs. Oh, my God. All right, Lexi.

[Lexi]

Yes?

[Nicole]

It's time to play. Is it funny, flirty, or L worthy? Friendly reminder, we are currently at 9L.

[Lexi]

Sure.

[Nicole]

Okay, starting off with Kingfisher promising a not happy about having her lady bits crushed onto a horse. Sarahs that he will, quote, happily kiss all your aches and pains. Better for you once we start strike camp. I've been told my mouth has healing properties, especially when administered between a pair of thighs.

[Lexi]

Yeah, flirty. Absolutely.

[Nicole]

The stable hand at the tavern asking if Carrion's for sale. And King Fisher says, what's your best offer?

[Lexi]

Funny, Funny.

[Nicole]

Oh, my God. All right, Sabre's being terrified to go into the Shadow Gate and thinking about running away. And then Kingfisher says, quote, are you thinking about running? Gods, I hope so. I'll give you a head start if you like. It's been an age since I've hunted anything. Can it be L worthy?

[Lexi]

It's. He already got an L for the Shadow Gate, so I'm just going to loop this in with that.

[Nicole]

Okay.

[Lexi]

I don't know.

[Nicole]

I think compelling deserves its own L.

[Lexi]

But this is not L worthy.

[Nicole]

It. For me, it's lowercase L worthy. He's talking about chasing and hunting. This is why I don't do stalker romances. I don't either.

[Lexi]

No, we're just gonna add it to the other. It's just gonna be part of the other L. Oh.

[Nicole]

I guess that's the decision. Okay. Okay, next. This is a short one. Quote, I'd be a little annoyed if you told me to go fuck myself. Funny.

[Lexi]

Funny. Yeah, funny.

[Nicole]

All right, hard pivot. But after Sarah says that her and Fisher aren't that different, he says, quote, we are nothing alike. You nearly died from a scratch. That would have been a mild irritation to me. You are soft. You are fragile. You are vulnerable. You are a newborn fawn stumbling around in the dark, surrounded by predators with very sharp teeth. I am the thing that puts the fear of the gods into the monsters who would eat your bones and all.

[Lexi]

Flirty.

[Nicole]

Try again.

[Lexi]

No. Okay, Wait, are you serious? Yes. Okay, so.

[Nicole]

Whoa, hold on.

[Lexi]

The first half of it is L worthy, but the second half is flirty.

[Nicole]

That's still getting an L. No, the.

[Lexi]

Flirty part gets to out. I'm no float.

[Nicole]

You are soft. You are fragile. You are vulnerable. You are a newborn fawn stumbling around in the dark, surrounded by predators with very sharp teeth.

[Lexi]

Are you kidding me?

[Nicole]

That is an L. Executive decision.

[Lexi]

She is a human.

[Nicole]

No, we are moving on. That is an L. Then when talking about Sarah saying that she'll never come back to his bed again or invite him into hers, he says, quote, you're right. I don't think you'll invite me when the time comes comes. I think you'll beg.

[Lexi]

Flirty. See, I was going to say l worthy.

[Nicole]

Are you serious?

[Lexi]

I'd be like, okay, I think you'll beg. Like, I just. It's given the whole in heat thing vibes all over again.

[Nicole]

But he's not calling her A in heat. He's just saying she'll beg for it.

[Lexi]

Are you kidding me? No, no, no, no. Okay, if this one is flirty, then the above one gets to be flirty too, then great.

[Nicole]

This is an elf. Sounds great to me.

[Lexi]

No, no, too late. I already did it. Already. No, because I was gonna say the same thing. The if this one's an L, then the above one is not now. No, they are not both Ls. I will get this one B.

[Nicole]

No.

[Lexi]

And then I will.

[Nicole]

No, absolutely not.

[Lexi]

They are both Ls.

[Nicole]

Then they are both Ls. I totally hear where you're coming from. Where it feels like the bitch in heat. So I agree. Then.

[Lexi]

Great.

[Nicole]

That's an L. I still think it's hot though. Anyway, as Sarah tells him that quote, I don't even want to think about the depraved shit you've done in that room. Fisher laughs and then says, you're right, you don't.

[Lexi]

Funny.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Funny.

[Nicole]

I agree. Next, when Seymour's calls him incorrigible, Fisher says, I don't know what that means. And then she's like, yes, you fucking do. He relents with, all right, I do. What's your point? Funny and flirty. Works for me.

[Lexi]

Yeah.

[Nicole]

All right. Last but not least. Oh boy. When talking about fucking Saras being no like Seras not fucking serious. Like actually having sex with Seras being scratching of a perverse little itch for him. Then he'll be able to move on with his life. He then follows it up with quote, stupid, idiotic human.

[Lexi]

That's an owl.

[Nicole]

Oh, God. All right, we are at 12 Ls for Kingfisher.

[Lexi]

Thank you so much for listening to episode three of our quicksilver deep dive.

[Nicole]

We will see you again on Monday where we are covering chapters 26 through 37 for episode four. Yes, it will be another jam packed episode as we cover the middle stretch of this book.

[Lexi]

We would love to give the biggest warm welcome, welcome, welcome to our newest feral fans. Thank you so much for being here. We're so excited to have you.

[Nicole]

Welcome, welcome, welcome to Tyna, Joseline, Vicki D. Angie, Tabby H, Rachel C and.

[Lexi]

Tabby T. Welcome, welcome, welcome.

[Nicole]

Yay.

[Lexi]

Thank you again so much for being here. It means the world to us that you are here and supporting the show and being part of this community. Thank you, thank you, thank you. And if you're like, hey, I want my name shouted out on the podcast, they do shout with all this love too. Join our Fan Club at fantasyfangirls.com Fan Club link is also in the show notes.

[Nicole]

Thank you as always to our master librarian AKA our content researcher Brooke and also our Executive producer AKA our sanity manager and the co host of Fantasy fanfellas Hayden.

[Lexi]

We are very active on social media with weekly trivia, book guides and lots more. So please be sure to follow us on Instagram and slash or TikTok at fantasy fangirlspod. And if you're watching this on YouTube, pretty please hit that subscribe button to keep following along.

[Nicole]

While you're hitting buttons, don't forget to hit that five star button on whatever podcasting platform you're listening on. And maybe writing a little love note not review section. It is so helpful not just for this podcast seriously, but for any podcast you listen to. And last but certainly not least, share this episode with your fellow Quick Silver friends. If you have a fellow Archer in your life, this is a perfect episode. So descend to them so you can just geek out over Archer together.

[Lexi]

All right everybody, we will see you next week. Thank you so much. Bye bye. Cirrus knows that Fisher's should. Oh dear. Cirrus knows that fishes shoulders. Shoulders. Fishers shoulders.

[Nicole]

They kneel before the fur in stone. Sounds like furry stone. Acast powers the world's best podcasts.

[Lexi]

Here's a show that we recommend.

[Nicole]

Welcome to Creative Commerce. I'm Rachel Tippograph, the founder and CEO of Micmac. And I'm Sarah Hofstadter, Chairwoman of Profitero Plus. And this is a show that talks about what's relevant in commerce for the world's biggest brand. Every week we talk with C Suite executives from the brand shaping our world. Unilever, PepsiCo, Colgate. So many more. We get into the strategies behind their most impactful moves, from digital transformations to new product launches. And of course we always end with our famous last question. What's the bravest thing you've ever done Each conversation is real, insightful, and always surprising. So if you want unfiltered lessons on leadership and growth, plus a laugh or two along the way, hit subscribe and join us on Brave Commerce.

[Lexi]

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[Nicole]

Acast.com.