Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 231436 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1157(@200wpm)___ 926(@250wpm)___ 771(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 231436 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1157(@200wpm)___ 926(@250wpm)___ 771(@300wpm)
Right after Cas and Poppy discuss the Empath line and almost kiss, Naill interrupts with news that the Ascended are coming from the western roads. When the vamprys enter the yard, Casteel tells Naill to be smart, and the Atlantian takes off.
Following the Ascended attack, he goes to scout the western roads to make sure they’re clear so they can leave as soon as possible. As they’re riding for Atlantia, he witnesses Poppy hitting Cas. When Casteel shrugs it off, Naill remarks that it didn’t look like a love tap to him.
As they ride past the tree hangings, Naill is the first to spot the Dead Bones Clan, shouting to the group that they’re in the trees to the left. He takes an arrow to the leg in the skirmish and is nearly shot again until Poppy takes out his attacker with a crossbow. After the attack, Naill rides ahead to scout and ensure they don’t run into any more clansmen. As they continue on, and Poppy asks questions about the Dead Bones Clan, Naill explains that they aren’t just anti-Craven in protecting their territory. They’re anti-everyone.
When they reach Pompay, Casteel relays the story of its tragic history, and Poppy wonders why she’s shocked after everything she’s already heard. Naill replies that it’s not something anyone ever gets used to and he wouldn’t want to. He says he needs to be shocked so the line between him and the vamprys doesn’t thin.
Poppy comes upon Naill and Delano sitting on the wall facing the bay in Spessa’s End. Delano says she looks like she could use a drink and offers her the bottle. Naill warns her that it tastes like horse piss. He’s likely not wrong. I have had my fair share of rot-gut whiskey and other assorted steel-tub liquor throughout the years. And while it does the job, it’s not always palate-pleasing.
Emil calls Poppy Your Highness, and she seems bothered by it. Naill informs her that even before her crowning, it’s customary and would be a great dishonor if they didn’t address her as such.
On the way through the Skotos Mountains, Naill splits off with Beckett and Delano to head through the mist, and their group is the last to reconvene at Gold Rock.
Despite always being calm and collected, witnessing Poppy’s display of power at the Chambers of Nyktos is shocking and scary to him. Like several others there, Naill is tracked by a wolven, even as he softly tries to reason with it. Once things calm, Casteel orders him to join Emil and Delano in finding and bringing Beckett to him. Unfortunately, poor Beckett is already dead.
Naill is part of the group that rescues Poppy in Irelone and happily vents his anger by tearing through the Ascended. As they make their way back through the Skotos, he feeds Cas in a hunting cabin in the foothills. Once Poppy wakes, even her earliest transformations—namely her strength and agility—awe him.
When Cas teases Poppy about finding her perched outside a window with a certain book in her hand—my diary, if you couldn’t guess—Naill is super intrigued by the story and even more so by the book. I hope they shared it with him later.
Poppy thanks him for helping Casteel after Irelone, and by extension, her. She then tells him to call her Poppy instead of Penellaphe, which makes him smile. After Kieran shifts, Naill retrieves his clothes but gives the wolven grief and says he should have let him return to the kingdom buck-ass naked.
Naill wonders about the storm that could have twisted and bent the trees and is even more shocked when they ride past the trees of Aios, and he sees that the leaves are no longer golden but blood-red. At the Temple of Saion, Naill leads Alastir from the crypts and forces him to his knees in front of Cas and Poppy. After the traitors are dealt with, Naill leaves with Emil and Quentyn before dawn.
Once they arrive at the Contou residence, Naill dines with everybody, and they talk about Iliseeum. He then joins the group headed to the capital, engaging in his usual banter and bickering with Emil and mentioning that he hasn’t had a green bean casserole in years when talk of food arises. As Emil continually flirts with Poppy, Naill wonders aloud if the Atlantian has a death wish—I wonder the same!
The Unseen attack, and Naill is hit in the arm with an arrow yet still fights with everyone to battle back the Unseen and the Gyrms. Later, Poppy inquires about some buildings and is told they house machinery that converts water to electricity. Naill says that it’s all incredibly boring and complicated but that he could probably recite each piece and state its purpose since his father oversees the mills.
During the transfer of the Crown from Eloana and Valyn to Poppy and Cas, he stands guard and then walks with the group through the palace. He’s also present for the Council meeting and my announcement of the new rulers to the people of Atlantia.