Elantris 57: Hrathen

We see the coronation scene from Hrathen's point of view. Hrathen is at first miffed that Sarene has managed to get people to accept some impostor. Then he is miffed that the people accept the Elantrian Raoden. Hrathen figures out that Raoden has been in Elantris all along.

Hrathen once again questions his own strategy. He's so full of doubt, this guy! It's a wonder he achieved anything.

He follows Dilaf into the city and finds out that Wryns army of ninja priests is already here. The invasion is starting early, presumably triggered by Telrii's insolence at asking to be a gyorn.

Elantris 56: Sarene

Shuden is not happy because his best friend Eondel is dead, his betrothed Torena has disappeared (a mystery to be solved later) and her dad Ahan turned out to be a traitor (and is still at large, possibly having escaped somewhere with his daughter).

City guard soldiers approach Roial's house. Raoden decides to parley, which turns out to be the right move because the soldiers are looking for a king.

Raoden decides to claim the throne and heads straight to the coronation ceremony. It's the latest in a long line of ceremonies in which people turn into Elantrians at the key moment. Dilaf somehow interferes with Raoden's magic disguise. What power does Dilaf have over AonDor?

It's not as bad as it could be: Sarene makes a rousing speech and persuades the assembled nobility to accept Elantrian Raoden as king. It seems to work. Personally I'd be a bit more worried about the peasantry: will they accept an undead king supported by a wife who came back from the dead? It seems far from a given. And peasants can be revolting.

Elantris 55: Raoden

In which Raoden and Sarene decide to get married. Sarene is a bit annoyed that she didn't figure out Spirit's identity sooner, but she's not as annoyed as I thought she would be, probably because she is mainly relieved. Raoden uses magic to make her hair grow back, since Hrathen's poison made it fall out. It seems the Elantrian magic is powerful enough to be useful.

Through magic binoculars they learn that Eondel and Telrii are dead.

Elantris 54: Hrathen

Here we go. Hrathen doesn't believe Raoden has returned and assumes it's a rumour spread by Sarene. He goes to see Telrii but he turns out to be busy being overthrown. Eondel and his soldiers are fighting the city guards. Eondel chops off Telrii's head and collapses himself. The bloody change in power is under way.

I expect the change in power is done and dusted, or will be soon. Now Raoden and Sarene can take the throne and live happily ever after. And restore Elantris to its former glory. And fight off Fjorden hordes. But probably not in that order.

Elantris 53: Sarene and Raoden

It's all happening at the secret meeting! They discuss various methods of deposing Telrii, such as raising an army of peasants or having him assassinated. Raoden drops out of character accidentally and Sarene figures out that he is Spirit. In the kitchen they have a nice chat, but Spirit lets on that he has more secrets.

Roial has hired some assassins and they are ready to go. But Ahan turns out to be a spy and has summoned the king and his guards to arrest everyone. They stick a sword in poor old Roial. Then Raoden reveals himself as Raoden! The soldiers don't want to attack him and they run off, and the Telrii is not far behind them.

Raoden explains himself somewhat. He tries to heal Roial but the magic isn't strong enough. Eondel calls him king. Sarene realises she has a husband.

All they have to do now is unite the people behind Raoden and defend the realm against the superior might of the Fjordells. Easy!

Elantris 52: Raoden

Ok I was wrong. Raoden is playing the part of the Dula and Galladon is the servant. The plan is to wriggle his way into Arelene high society and get invited to Roial's meetings. I'm not sure why the secrecy when surely playing the "I am the highly popular and previously thought to be dead prince with a blood claim to the throne, follow me!" strategy would be simpler. What possible influence could a newcomer Dula wield that would be worth risking so much to exercise?

He's not doing too badly. He's had Roial sell his gold light fittings for enough money to live comfortably on for several years. Those are some pretty awesome light fittings! Presumably they came from the secret library. How much other treasure is lying around in Elantris? The Elantrians are missing a trick.

Somehow, through sheer charm, Raoden as Kaloo gets invited to the secret meeting of traitors. Roial is awfully trusting.

Elantris 51: Hrathen

Hrathen wanders the market and spots an arteth going into a tent. He follows, annoyed that arteths are wandering the market when they are supposed to be praying. It turns out to be Dilaf, who is very disrespectful. I say again: what is the point of a strict hierarchical structure if you can't just have your underlings' heads chopped off if they so much as look at you funny? Dilaf is claiming some sort of victory and Hrathen is left wondering what it is.

Oh, we also learn that Wryn is not going to make Telrii a gyorn (because he's a foreigner). So that means he either converts (and the whole country converts with him) or else Wryn will attack with ninja priests. Or possibly Telrii will be overthrown by Sarene and Raoden just in time for them to be attacked by Wryn. We'd better hope the Elantrian magic is back up to full strength by then.