Empire of Storms

Dorian lingers with Rowan and the other cadre members in Skull’s Bay while Rolfe refuses to meet with them. To fill their days, Rowan and Dorian exercise their bodies and hone their magical abilities. Sometimes Fenrys and Gavriel join them, but whenever Rowan senses that Dorian’s grief is becoming overwhelming, he sends them away. In the afternoons, Rowan and Dorian prowl Skull’s Bay for gossip and intel. After some time passes without progress, Rowan mails a letter to Dorian containing war-related misinformation that centers on Rolfe. Rolfe falls for the trap and summons both to a meeting in his office. When they arrive at the tavern and Rolfe unlocks the door, he sees Celaena Sardothien (Aelin Galathynius) sitting in his chair.

Rolfe is shocked by Celaena/Aelin’s presence, as he does not know about Aelin’s true identity. Acting as Celaena, Aelin confirms that Rolfe no longer participates in enslavement and now offers sanctuary to any former enslaved persons who come to Skull’s Bay. She taunts Rolfe and flirts with Rowan before Lysandra enters the room, shifted to resemble Aelin. Rolfe is shocked by the two Aelins, and Lysandra shifts back into her own form. Aelin asks Rowan, Dorian, Fenrys, and Gavriel to affirm her identity to Rolfe, and they do.