“ | Have you ever had the feeling that someone else is having all the fun? | ” |
Dark Paths is the forty-seventh chapter in Last Argument of Kings.
Chapter Summary
King Jezal hurries through the gates into the palace, surprised at how well the aged Marovia is moving. As they stare at the sealed gates, a white-armoured figure crashes through the ceiling from above and lands before them. The Eater attacks, mowing down twelve Knights of the Body before it’s brought down. They move deeper into the palace, only to find another pair of Eaters waiting; The Twins.
At the University, Glokta’s mercenaries bash the door down, to find Sult’s Practicals waiting, led by Vitari. As both sides brittle at each other, Glokta steps forward and bluffs that he has taken Vitari’s children into custody. Vitari agrees to stand aside. Glokta and his ragtag mercenaries reach the door with black iron rivets.
In the Square of Marshals, the wind blows the sawdust to reveal the metal pattern below. Shocked as he realises what's happening, Mamun tries to protest that in using The Seed, Bayaz is breaking The First Law, but to no avail.1 Bayaz summons forth the power of The Seed, sweeping Eaters away, and creating a maelstrom of winds that begin to tear the surrounding buildings apart.2
Meanwhile, Logen moves over the rubble into the Agriont, with Shiver stalking behind him. Sensing trouble, Dogman gathers Grim and a few others, and follows them.
In the palace, The Twins chase King Jezal from room to room, until he’s finally cornered in the Chamber of Mirrors, with only Gorst and Marovia.
Characters
Locations and Terms
Adua | The Union | Battle of Adua | Eaters | Knights of the Body | University |
The First Law | The Seed | Square of Marshals | Agriont |
References
- When it becomes clear that Bayaz will break The First Law, Mamun is shocked. As though The First Law is more inviolate than The Second. Certainly breaking The First Law is potentially putting the state of the entire world at risk. However, Bayaz is above rules now it seems.
- The Hundred Words show up, puffed up on the human flesh they’ve devoured. They expect Bayaz to be the typical good guy, unwilling to wield the Ring of Power and die for his principles rather than join them in the gutter. But Bayaz is no Gandalf. Bayaz will break any law, and all of a sudden the cannibals are suddenly shocked, SHOCKED. They signed up for an unfair fight, and boy did they end up getting one.