Elena, the highest arbiter of the Holy Court, deserts after witnessing its exploitation of beastfolk and hides as a market laborer on the frontier. Three years later, royal forces impose a deadly trial on the border, and she returns aboard a griffin to defeat them. When the archbishop releases a madness toxin, Elena uses her own blood to save thousands of beastfolk, storms the Blood-Spirit fortress, and tames a titan bear. With an ice-bone dragon she destroys the crusade and shatters the archbishop's plan to drain an entire city. She then breaks both crown and chains, choosing freedom over rule.
