SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

Chapters 11-16

Well, I'm stunned over and over again, just on so many different levels.

So there is in fact a third trial. And a fourth. They just totally slipped my mind.

The third was a fire trial called The Hall of Flames, where balls/streams of fire would erupt from the floor and Darren would have to dodge them for fifteen minutes. The only hint that a ball of fire would erupt was a faint hissing sound. The trial was covered fairly quickly but it was highly consequential. Darren really struggled through it as he had to leap through flames on several occasions badly burning himself. He made it through but his injuries were severe physically and mentally.

As a result, the Princes showed mercy in a roundabout, unofficial fashion. They all agreed to conveniently need to be somewhere else during Darren's trial therefore postponing it three days. The three days were great so Darren could heal a bit before his next trial, without those days he wouldn't have stood a chance. Kurda didn't think of this specific idea, but he advocated strongly to take some type of action to aid Darren because of his injuries. Kurda is literally saving Darren on so many occasions it's stunning. He advocated for the Princes to remove some of the more difficult trials, and now he advocated for assistance after his burns... I'll get back to this shortly.

Darren's fourth trial was called The Blooded Boars where he'd have to kill two wild boars infected with vampire blood. In normal circumstances the trial would have been somewhat easy but of course Darren is on his fourth trial, still very injured, fatigued and still a half-vampire.

Darren struggles mightily. He kills one but ends up trapped under the second. As the boar approaches Darren to ram him with it's tusks and finish him HARKAT MULDS jumps in the pit and saves him. Unbelievable. There's a whole fuss about how to deal with Darren, since he technically didn't win or lose the trial. Though most believe Darren was about to be ended by the boar...

Harkat is sort of immune to punishment as he's not a vampire and he's considered Mr. Tiny's messenger.

So the section I read ended with it looking like Darren will be executed, as per rules when one fails a trial but there's a chance he'll be spared.

Anyway all that being said... Is Kurda/Harkat the real main character in this series? The real MVP? Because what? I've said this in prior posts but I was mildly joking then, but now I'm being more and more serious.

I mean Harkat, who is basically Kurda for the most part, just saved Darren once AGAIN. Kurda is doing so much heavy lifting not just for Darren but for vampires in general kinda, it's truly incredible.

My brain can't really wrap my head around this. Maybe Darren and Kurda/Harkat are just the greatest duo of all time?

Also I find it interesting that Darren gets along with Kurda and Harkat. I mean maybe they were truly destined to be homies. Then I consider Darren's ultimate fate at the end of book 12.... Holy crap man.

I first thought Kurda/Harkat was simply a fairly clever, profound and creative character. But I'm starting to realize finally just how deep this all goes. It's just stunning. Harkat is also seen on so many occasions, earning respect among vampires, just as he did when he was Kurda. So interesting.

Harkat, earlier in one of these chapters, says that one of his memories came back in regards to his deal with Mr. Tiny. Mr. Tiny told Harkat that if he sticks with Darren, his original identity would eventually be revealed. So maybe a part of Harkat saved Darren for that desire. But I don't think it was fully. Even if it was, I don't blame Harkat, I'd wanna know who I was too. Bottom line is he still did a brave thing by saving Darren AGAIN, and Harkat has been wholesome and nice the whole time so, at the end of the day Harkat is still a GOAT.

Through Harkat, Kurda's ultimately solid goodness is revealed. Like the core of Kurda is good. Kurda is about to commit an act of betrayal but still....

I am curious though, as much as I'm praising Kurda, just how much Kurda was plotting with the vampaneze, and what the nature of the plan actually was. My memory is fuzzy there. A lot is to be revealed shortly.... Still, Kurda, through his existence as Harkat does redeem himself... I'm still incredibly curious to re-experience this whole storyline and re-learn details I've surely forgotten!

Phew. Let's go!