The ​Crown of Gilded Bones

Several geographical and magical barriers protect Iliseeum’s entrance, but Jasper knows of a secret entrance. When he initially refuses to tell Cas, Poppy, and Kieran, Cas threatens violence. Poppy de-escalates the situation by asking who would know how to perform the ancient magic to create Gyrm. Jasper lists several older Atlantians, Willa Colyns among them. Cas recognizes the name as the author of the sex journal that Poppy stole from the Ascended. This confirms his theory that Willa is Atlantian. The men make several teasing comments at Poppy’s expense before Jasper explains that Willa is a 2,000-year-old changeling. Finally, Jasper reveals that Iliseeum’s entrance is beneath the mountains, in the caves and caverns where Cas, Malik, and Kieran played in their childhood. Poppy wonders if the young boys were called to the location by the gods.

Poppy dresses, appreciating Cas’s thoughtfulness in stocking her wardrobe with colorful garments; in Solis as The Maiden, Poppy was only ever permitted to wear white. Poppy selects a cobalt-blue, sleeveless day dress. Cas explains that he and his father met to discuss the interrogations with guardsmen throughout Atlantia and Evaemon, the location of the capital city. Poppy and Cas disagree about whether to issue severe punishments for members of the Unseen who have been brainwashed into thinking that Poppy is dangerous.