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Everyone has a role in New Elantris; [[Matisse]] looks after the children of the Roost but on this night they cannot find the will to sleep. Outside, many of the adults have begun drawing [[Aon]]s. Matisse ushers the children to bed with threats of doing more school work if they wanted to stay up. As Matisse observes many of the adults outside surrounding [[Galladon]], Idotris claims Aons are useless before Matisse leaves the Roost. Searching out her adoptive father, [[Dashe]], he explains to her that Galladon is having the Elantrians practice Aons in the new form that he and Raoden discovered in [[Elantris (city)|Elantris]] - adding the chasm line.
WatchinWhile watching Galladon lecture the Elantrians, AsheMatisse floatsand upDashe behindare Matisseapproached andfrom Dashebehind by Ashe. He had come with a message for [[Karata]], but Dashe informs him she's in the library and; with Galladon otherwise pre-occupied Ashe delivers his message from Sarene to Dashe about the shipment of weapons coming into New Elantris to Dashe. After Dashe leaves to organiseorganize men to collect the weapons, Matisse asks to borrow Ashe for a moment.
Back at the Roost, Ashe helpstells a young girlstory to sleephelp anda afteryoung he'sgirl donefall withasleep, his storythen he speaks to Matisse outside. She apologizes for taking his time to which he commentsresponds that he is pleased to do so again, since Sarene washas agrown childup. [[Mareshe]] calls out to Matisse looking for Dashe. She warns him not to wake the children. Mareshe lets slip that Galladon and Karata have disappeared now too. Suddenly, New Elantris erupts into distant screams; Ashe flies away to see what is happening while [[Taid]] - the adult supervisor of the Roost - runs to investigate himself.
On the verge of following, Idotris is stopped by Matisse, usheringwho ushers him inside to wake the children. Crossing the street, Matisse finds two lanterns when Ashe comes back to inform her that a Fjordell army has invaded the city., Andand they are heading her way. InFilled the midst of herwith dread, Matisse snapsforces herself tointo action, realisingrealizing that the soldiers will be following the cleaned up streets to find the Elantrians and taking the children to the dirty partsareas of the city will be safer. Ashe is sent to find Dashe.
They flee the Roost, Idotris quieting the children whenever they cried, all staying close to the little lantern light they had. From behind, the harsh tongue of [[Fjordell]] is raised and Matisse turns to see three soldiers pursuing them. Horrified by the realisationrealization that these men would kill the children, she tells themthe allchildren to run. Ashe comes back to distract the soldiers so that Dashe can charge them unseen. Urging the children on again, Matisse whirls around, wishing she could do something to help Dashe. He fights bravely but is overwhelemedoverwhelmed by numbers and a weakened Elantrian body. He takes a sword to the chest and sees Matisse, mouthing "run" to her. Matisse screams, drawing the attention of the soldiers.
Ashe tries to motivate her but an idea occurs to her. that sheShe sends Ashe on to find Idotris and tell him to lead the children to the library where Galladon and Karata will be. Hoping it will work she begins drawing Aon Ashe, the symbol for light. The soldiers advance after a slight hesitation but are blinded by a brilliant light when she completes the symbol with the chasm line. Then she runs. Into Elantristhe properslime andof allElantris theproper sludgeMatisse shegoes, pickspicking her way through the streets until she finds herself surrounded by Fjordell soldiers. One of the soldiers grabs her but a well placed kick causes him to slip on the sludge and release her. Her leg now damaged and unhealing she limps away from the soldiers still fighting to upright themselves. Finding Dashe's body and the blaze of New Elantris in flames she realisesrealizes she's gone in a circle.
Dashe repeats the mantra of a [[Hoed]], already his mind broken. Instead of running from the approaching soldiers, Matisse holds on to Dashe's body, not wanting to flee. The Fjordell soldier interrogates her as to the location of the children, threatening her with pain before something happens: the ground shakes and suddenly Matisse feels warm, her skin turning silvery and her wounds healing. The Fjordell man is taken aback but still intent on causing her pain. The life of Elantris is returning andto life, but she is going to die at this man's hands. WithHowever, herwith healed,the socity's healing came wasalso Dashe's, andas he announces such before killing the Fjordell man with the same sword that had impaled himDashe not long ago.
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Ashe finishes his story; Raoden understands that Ashe wanted to stay with the children until the crisis was over with, explaining his absenseabsence. Raoden then inquires to Ashe which of the two Seons he sent Dashe for his services he gave to Matisse, expecting it to be Ati. Instead, Matisse has been given Aeo which Raoden considers equally appropriate.
Aeo means bravery.
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