Chapters Thirty-seven — Forty Summary

In Chapter Thirty-seven, the court prepares for a festive Christmas feast complete with entertainment. Ismae senses desperation and betrayal in the crowd. When the entertainers enter, Ismae notices them getting too near the main table where the duchess sits. Just as a hellequin jumps onto the table, brandishing a knife, Ismae takes a shot and kills the man. In the midst of the following pandemonium, Anne and Isabeau are taken back to their rooms. Chancellor Crunard orders all of them to meet in Anne's chambers. Ismae wonders who is behind the assassination attempt, d'Albret or another enemy.

In Chapter Thirty-eight, when the others learn who Ismae is, they ask her to leave their meeting. She and Duval go to the body of the dead hellequin. Ismae is able to connect with no soul in the man's body...