Throne of Glass Chapters 25–28 Summary & Analysis

Summary: Chapters 25–28

Chapter 25

Celaena dreams that she has re-entered the passageway. She follows the stairs down and enters a tomb in which rest two crowned statues of a man and a woman. Celaena notices a Wyrdmark carved into the woman’s brow, and that the floor of the room is etched with a map of the stars, the ceiling with a map of the earth, and the walls with endless patterns of Wyrdmarks. Celaena realizes that the woman is Queen Elena Havilliard, the half-Fae first queen of Terrasen, and the man is Gavin, the first king of Adarlan. She finds Gavin’s sword, named Damaris, and is suddenly faced with the spirit of Queen Elena. She tells Celaena that she has slipped past the gargoyles on the king’s clocktower, who guard the portal between the world of the dead and of the living, to deliver a message. She warns Celaena that there is a great evil in the castle, that Celaena must destroy it and become the king’s champion. A creature howls, someone screams, and Elena tells Celaena to run. Celaena wakes in her bed, clutching a protective amulet given to her by Elena.

Chapter 26

The next morning, Chaol storms into Celaena’s room, asking her where she was last night and telling her that today’s test has been canceled after Xavier, one of the Champions, had been found dead that morning. After Chaol leaves, Celaena makes herself more makeshift weapons, worried that the scream she heard in her dream had been Xavier’s. She goes back into the passageway, and down to the tomb.

Walking between the sarcophagi, Celaena contemplates out loud why she has been chosen for the task of finding and destroying the evil in the castle. Finding nothing in the tomb, she leaves.

Accompanied by her guards, Celaena walks through the castle and comes upon Xavier’s corpse. His brain is missing, blood is smeared on the walls, and three Wrydmarks are written in an arc around the body. Grave nears as she passes the body, and she tries to look unfazed.

During a fencing session, Chaol and Dorian challenge each other on why they were both in Celaena’s room the night before; neither man reveals his reasons. They speak of the king’s extended absence, and of who might be killing the Champions. Chaol says he has found nothing out. When they are finished, Dorian returns to his rooms, thinking of Celaena and feeling lonely.

Chapter 27

Celaena and Nehemia walk around the grounds, and Celaena can’t stop observing the gargoyles on the king’s clocktower and the Wyrdmarks on the ground, even though Nehemia tells her not to think about them. Nehemia asks her about Xavier’s death, and Celaena tells her about the corpse. Cain and Verin appear behind them and begin circling, mocking them both. Cain indicates that he knows who Celaena truly is, and Celaena has to restrain herself from attacking him, afraid that Nehemia will infer the truth about her. Nehemia leads her away from the men, and Celaena is comforted by her friendship.

Dorian and Chaol watch Celaena train, commenting privately on her growing strength and the unpredictability of her anger. Dorian is surprised to see Nox join her, and Chaol tells him that Celaena often helps Nox train.

Celaena begins to spend all her free time researching Wyrdmarks in the library, a search that has yet to prove fruitful. Chaol asks her about it, and she tells him that there are conflicting theories on what the Wyrd really is, that it has to do with the connection of the living world to a spirit world through something called a Wyrdgate. She continues to search and finds nothing to help her.

Chapter 28

Celaena tries to teach herself to play billiards as a distraction that night. She gets frustrated, and is throwing a tantrum when Dorian arrives. He teaches her how to correctly shoot. They play through the night and talk about all sorts of things. Eventually Celaena goes to bed, and Dorian wonders if they could have a future together.

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