Council of Shadows

In the sacred city of Roihm, the Council of Agla gathers to consider a desperate proposal: Odile, a venatrix of noble blood, claims she can wear the legendary Crown of Mauval and survive. Her mentor, Domina d'Arcand, argues that Odile's heritage and hard-won experience make her the Order's salvation. The council is divided, haunted by memories of past disasters when others tried and failed, unleashing devastation. Yet the hope of purging shades without killing innocents—especially children—tempts them. The Grand Vanderian, torn between fear and longing, ultimately allows the test, setting in motion a chain of events that will challenge the very foundations of faith, power, and sacrifice in the world of Gaulia.

The Venatrix's Claim

Odile stands before the council, her soul blazing with the power of her Elemental shade. She claims the right to the Crown, vowing to bear its burden for the Order and the Goddess. The council's skepticism is fierce, but Odile's conviction and the promise of redemption for the shade-taken sway them. The Grand Vanderian warns her of the deadly risk: if she falters, she will be killed without mercy. Odile accepts, her humility and resolve impressing even her harshest critics. The council votes, and the fate of the Crown—and perhaps the world—rests on Odile's shoulders as the ancient artifact is brought forth, its legacy of hope and horror looming over all.

Prisoner in Dunloch

In the aftermath of a witch attack, Ayleth, a young venatrix, finds herself imprisoned in her room at Dunloch Castle, drugged and cut off from her shade, Laranta. Confused and hurt by the mistrust of her superiors, especially Dominus Fendrel, she struggles with the indignity and loneliness of her confinement. Her only glimpses of the outside world come through a warded window, where she sees signs of unrest and danger. Ayleth's longing to prove herself and her loyalty is met with silence and suspicion, as the true reasons for her captivity remain shrouded in the secrets and fears of those who hold power over her.

The Witchwood's Edge

Venatrix Everild, tasked with maintaining the Great Barrier that holds back the cursed Witchwood, ventures to its edge. The forest's evil is palpable, a legacy of Dread Odile's final curse. While reinforcing the barrier, Everild encounters a shade-taken child—a Seer, inborn and dangerous. The child offers to lead her to Lady Cerine, recently kidnapped. Torn between duty and mercy, Everild follows, only to be ambushed. The encounter reveals the cunning and cruelty of the witches, and the ever-present threat that the Witchwood and its denizens pose to the fragile peace of the kingdom.

Curses and Confessions

Terryn, haunted by his near-fatal betrayal under a witch's curse, seeks forgiveness from Prince Gerard. Their bond, forged in loyalty and brotherhood, is tested by guilt, grief, and the weight of prophecy. Gerard, shattered by the loss of Lady Cerine and the lies that underpin his royal destiny, questions the very foundation of his identity. The two men, each carrying wounds both physical and spiritual, struggle to find purpose and hope as the shadows of the past and the machinations of their elders threaten to consume them.

The Golden Prince's Doubt

Gerard confronts his father, King Guardin, and his uncle Fendrel, demanding the truth behind Ayleth's imprisonment and the secrets of their rule. The prince's faith in prophecy and the Order is shaken as he learns of the lies and compromises that built the kingdom. The tension between duty and conscience, between the need for order and the cost of truth, comes to a head. Gerard's resolve to act, to break the cycle of deception, sets him on a collision course with the powers that have shaped his life and the fate of Perrinion.

Blood and Betrayal

The arrival of the Phasmatrix Domina and her retinue brings judgment to Dunloch. Ayleth is subjected to a brutal test, revealing her as an inborn—one born with a shade, an abomination in the eyes of the Order. Condemned to die by fire, Ayleth is overwhelmed by terror and betrayal. The revelation shatters her sense of self and exposes the deep divisions and hypocrisies within the Order. As preparations for her execution begin, allies and enemies alike are forced to confront the cost of their beliefs and the limits of their mercy.

The Arrival of Judgment

Reinforcements from the Order arrive, led by the formidable Phasmatrix Domina. Their presence intensifies the scrutiny and fear within Dunloch. The rituals of judgment and execution are set in motion, and the castle becomes a crucible of suspicion, loyalty, and desperation. Old wounds and rivalries flare as the venators and venatrices prepare for the grim work ahead. The arrival of Lady Cerine, rescued but traumatized, and the escalating threat of the witches outside the barrier, add to the mounting sense of crisis and impending doom.

The Inborn Revelation

As Ayleth faces execution, Terryn risks everything to free her, revealing his own heretical doubts and feelings. Their escape is fraught with danger, as the witches' attack on Dunloch begins in earnest. Amid chaos and bloodshed, Ayleth's memories and powers surge, and she learns the truth of her origins: she is the granddaughter of Dread Odile, the Witch Queen. The revelation reframes her entire life, casting her loyalty, her training, and her very existence into question. The lines between hunter and hunted, savior and monster, blur as the castle descends into violence and fear.

The Pyre and the Storm

As Ayleth's pyre is prepared, a supernatural storm—conjured by the Stormwitch—descends on Dunloch, burning and scattering the assembled Order. The witches breach the castle, unleashing chaos and death. The Crimson Devils, Odile's most loyal lieutenants, return, each wielding terrifying powers. The defenders of Dunloch are overwhelmed, and the fragile order of the castra is shattered. In the midst of the storm, alliances are tested, sacrifices are made, and the true cost of the Order's dogma is laid bare.

The Crimson Devils' Return

The Phantomwitch, Warpwitch, Corpsewitch, and others infiltrate Dunloch, seeking to awaken Dread Odile. The defenders are beset on all sides—by illusions, curses, and the walking dead. The vault's secret is revealed: Odile's headless, undying body, hidden for decades, is the true foundation of the kingdom's peace. The witches' cunning and the Order's desperation collide in a battle that exposes the lies and compromises at the heart of both sides. As the witches close in on their prize, the fate of the kingdom hangs in the balance.

The Vault's Secret

The truth of Dread Odile's survival is laid bare: she cannot die except by the hand of her own blood, and only her kin's blood can awaken her. The Order's greatest secret is exposed, and the prophecy that built the kingdom is revealed as a lie. The vault, meant to be a tomb, becomes the site of resurrection and reckoning. The cost of victory—sacrifices, betrayals, and the damning of souls—comes due as the past returns to claim the present.

The Queen Awakens

Using Ayleth's stolen blood, the witches break the counter-curse and reanimate Odile. Her return is a moment of horror and awe, as the undying queen reclaims her power and her vengeance. The king is slain, the Order is broken, and the world is changed forever. Odile's awakening is not triumphant but tragic—a being of pain, rage, and undying will, bound by curses and haunted by loss. Her command to spare Ayleth, her granddaughter, sets the stage for a new and terrible conflict.

Wolves and Memories

In the aftermath, Ayleth demands the truth from Hollis, her mentor and captor. Memories return: her childhood among wolves, her mother's death, and the manipulation that shaped her into a weapon. The revelation that she is Odile's blood, raised to kill her own grandmother, is both a burden and a calling. Ayleth's sense of self is shattered and reforged, as she embraces her role as hunter—not for the Order, but for herself and those she loves. The legacy of wolves, shades, and blood becomes her strength and her curse.

The Weapon's Purpose

With the witches fleeing toward Dulìmurian and the eitr crown, Ayleth is forced into the role she was bred for: the only one who can kill Odile. Fendrel, desperate and ruthless, binds her with iron and poison, determined to use her as a weapon. Allies fall, betrayals multiply, and the cost of survival grows ever higher. Ayleth's agency is stripped away, but her resolve hardens. She will hunt Odile—not for the Order, not for prophecy, but for herself, to reclaim her life and her soul from those who would use her.

The Last Hunt Begins

As the witches vanish into the Witchwood, the survivors of Dunloch—Ayleth, Terryn, Hollis, and the remnants of the Order—prepare for a final, desperate pursuit. The lies and legacies of the past have been exposed, and the future is uncertain. Ayleth, now fully aware of her heritage and her power, embraces the hunt. The boundaries between good and evil, hunter and hunted, are blurred. The last hope for the kingdom rests on a girl raised by wolves, a weapon forged in lies, and the willingness to face the darkness within and without.

Characters

Ayleth di Ferosa

Ayleth is a young venatrix, raised in isolation and rigor by Hollis di Theldry, trained to hunt shades and uphold the Order's harsh laws. Unbeknownst to her, she is the granddaughter of Dread Odile, the Witch Queen, and an inborn—born with a shade, Laranta, who takes the form of a wolf. Ayleth's journey is one of self-discovery and betrayal: she is condemned as an abomination, manipulated as a weapon, and ultimately chosen as the only one who can kill Odile. Her psyche is marked by longing for belonging, fierce loyalty, and a wildness inherited from her lost childhood among wolves. As her memories and powers awaken, Ayleth must reconcile her love for her mentor, her hatred for her heritage, and her own agency in a world that would use or destroy her.

Terryn du Balafre

Terryn is a venator, raised by Fendrel to be the perfect servant of the Order and the right hand of Prince Gerard. Marked by a curse from the Warpwitch, he struggles with guilt, loyalty, and forbidden love for Ayleth. Terryn's internal conflict is profound: he is both hunter and hunted, heretic and hero, as he risks everything to save Ayleth and confronts the truth of the Order's lies. His relationship with his shade, Nisirdi, becomes a metaphor for his struggle with power, control, and self-acceptance. Terryn's arc is one of sacrifice, rebellion, and the painful forging of a new identity beyond the dogma that shaped him.

Hollis di Theldry

Hollis is Ayleth's mistress and surrogate mother, a venatrix of formidable skill and an Apparition shade. She is both protector and manipulator, having killed Ayleth's mother and raised her as a weapon to kill Odile. Hollis's psyche is marked by regret, pragmatism, and a desperate hope for redemption. She embodies the moral ambiguity of the Order: willing to commit atrocities for the greater good, yet haunted by the cost. Her relationship with Ayleth is fraught with love, betrayal, and the impossible burden of shaping a child into a savior and a killer.

Fendrel du Glaive

Fendrel is the Venator Dominus, brother to the king and architect of the Order's war against the witches. He is a man of iron will, ruthless in pursuit of what he believes is the Goddess's will. Fendrel's psyche is shaped by sacrifice, self-denial, and the crushing weight of leadership. He orchestrates lies, manipulates allies, and damns himself with dark magic to protect the kingdom. His relationship with Terryn is paternal yet cold, and his hatred for Ayleth is rooted in fear of her power and what she represents. Fendrel's arc is tragic: a man who sacrifices everything, only to see his vision unravel in blood and betrayal.

Gerard du Glaive

Gerard, the Golden Prince, is the heir to a kingdom built on lies. Sensitive, intelligent, and compassionate, he is tormented by the truth of his lineage and the cost of the Order's victory. Gerard's relationships—with Terryn, Ayleth, and his father—are marked by longing for authenticity and the pain of betrayal. His crisis of faith mirrors the larger collapse of the kingdom's founding myths. Gerard's arc is one of reluctant leadership, as he must choose between perpetuating the old lies or forging a new, uncertain path.

Dread Odile

Odile is the legendary Witch Queen, bearer of the twin oblivis Elementals and the eitr crown. Cursed to live until slain by her own blood, she is both a figure of terror and tragedy. Her psyche is a maelstrom of pain, rage, and longing for power and connection. Odile's resurrection is not triumphant but haunted, her body and soul broken by centuries of conflict. Her relationship with Ayleth, her granddaughter, is fraught with prophecy, hope, and the possibility of redemption or annihilation.

Laranta

Laranta is Ayleth's inborn shade, taking the form of a wolf. She is both companion and source of power, embodying the wildness and love of Ayleth's lost family. Laranta's relationship with Ayleth is one of mutual trust and growth, as Ayleth learns to embrace her shade rather than suppress it. Laranta represents the possibility of harmony between mortal and shade, a counterpoint to the Order's doctrine of fear and control.

The Phantomwitch (Inren di Karel)

Inren is one of Odile's most devoted lieutenants, wielding the power to travel between worlds. Her psyche is marked by cunning, ambition, and a fierce devotion to her queen. Inren's actions drive much of the plot's chaos, as she orchestrates the witches' return and Odile's resurrection. Her relationship with the other Crimson Devils is one of rivalry and shared purpose, united by the dream of restoring Odile's reign.

The Corpsewitch (Gillotin)

Gillotin, once a venator, is now a witch who commands corpses and curses. His psyche is twisted by centuries of shifting hosts and allegiances. He embodies the seductive power of the shade and the corruption of the Order's ideals. Gillotin's relationship with Fendrel is one of old enmity, and his loyalty to Odile is both genuine and self-serving.

The Crystalwitch (Crisentha di Bathia)

Crisentha is one of the last Crimson Devils, her power manifesting in deadly crystal. She is a figure of resilience and malice, driven by loyalty to Odile and hatred for the Order. Her capture and interrogation provide crucial information, but her fate is a reminder of the cycle of violence and the impossibility of true victory in a world built on vengeance.

Plot Devices

Bloodline and Prophecy

The narrative hinges on the concept of bloodline: only Odile's kin can kill or awaken her, and only a descendant of Mauval can wield the eitr crown. This device drives the plot, making Ayleth both a target and a weapon. Prophecy and lineage are used to justify sacrifice, manipulation, and violence, blurring the line between destiny and choice. The tension between inherited fate and personal agency is explored through Ayleth's journey and the collapse of the kingdom's founding myths.

Shade Possession and Suppression

Shades—disembodied spirits with unique powers—possess mortals, granting abilities but threatening to overwhelm their hosts. The Order's doctrine of suppression, using song spells and iron, is both a literal and metaphorical device for the repression of self, emotion, and the "other." The relationship between host and shade mirrors the psychological struggle between desire and duty, wildness and civilization. The breaking of these suppressions, especially in Ayleth and Terryn, signals both danger and the possibility of transformation.

The Eitr Crown and Ancient Magic

The eitr crown, containing a bound shade, is the ultimate weapon and temptation. Its history—crafted by Mauval, lost, and sought by both Order and witches—serves as a symbol of power's double edge. The crown's role as both salvation and doom is foreshadowed throughout, culminating in the race to claim it before Odile can be restored to full strength.

Foreshadowing and Prophetic Visions

Throughout the narrative, characters experience prophetic dreams, visions, and warnings—often delivered by Seer shades or in moments of heightened emotion. These foreshadowings create tension, hint at betrayals and revelations, and underscore the theme of fate versus free will. The recurring motif of wolves, fire, and the face of Odile in Ayleth's dreams ties the personal to the epic.

Narrative Structure and Multiple Perspectives

The story unfolds through multiple perspectives—Ayleth, Terryn, Gerard, Fendrel, Hollis, and the witches—allowing the reader to experience the emotional and moral complexity of each character. This structure deepens the sense of betrayal, ambiguity, and the interconnectedness of fate. The use of parallel scenes (council debates, personal confessions, battles) reinforces the themes of power, sacrifice, and the cost of truth.

Analysis

Tears of Dust is a dark, emotionally charged fantasy that interrogates the foundations of faith, authority, and selfhood. At its heart is the question: what is the price of peace, and who must pay it? The novel exposes the dangers of dogma—how the Order's rigid suppression of shades and obsession with prophecy lead to cruelty, hypocrisy, and the perpetuation of violence. Through Ayleth's journey from weapon to self-aware hunter, the story explores the possibility of reconciliation between the wild and the civilized, the mortal and the other. The legacy of lies—personal, familial, and institutional—must be confronted if true healing is to occur. The narrative's modern resonance lies in its critique of inherited power, the manipulation of truth for the sake of order, and the necessity of forging one's own path in the face of overwhelming expectation. Ultimately, Tears of Dust is a story of transformation: of a girl raised by wolves who must decide whether to become the monster she was made to be, or to reclaim her agency and hunt for a future of her own making.

Last updated: October 16, 2025