Argument: With Dates explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• War and Conquest

  The chapter recounts numerous battles, campaigns, and conquests, including the reduction of Demonland, the battle of Thremnir's Heugh, and the final battle before Carcë.

• Loyalty and Betrayal

  Themes of loyalty and betrayal are central, as seen in Corsus's murder of Gallandus, Gro's abandonment of Witchland, and the dissensions among the Witchland forces.

• Fate and Prophecy

  Juss's vision of Goldry bound on Zora, the Queen's warnings, and the signs and prognosticks in the heavens highlight the role of fate and prophecy.

Characters to notice

• Lord Juss

  Central figure in the Demonland expedition; has a vision of Goldry bound on Zora; rides the hippogriff to Zora Rach and delivers Goldry.

• Brandoch Daha

  Accompanies Juss on the expedition; crosses the Zia Pass, ascends Koshtra Pivrarcha, and enters Koshtra Belorn.

• Queen Sophonisba

  Entertains Juss and Brandoch Daha in Koshtra Belorn; furthers their designs; warns Juss against assaying Zora Rach on foot.

• Goldry Bluszco

  Seen bound on Zora in Juss's vision; later delivered by Juss.

• Corinius

  Commissioned as king of Demonland; wins the battle of Thremnir's Heugh; crowned in Owlswick; later becomes captain general again; slain by Corsus after poisoning.

• Corsus

  Commands the expedition to Demonland; murders Gallandus; degraded by the King; later attempts to poison Corinius and others; slain by Corinius.

• Lord Gro

  Brings tidings to Carcë; abandons Witchland for Demonland; meets Juss and Brandoch Daha; slain in the battle before Carcë.

• Lady Prezmyra

  Crowned Queen of Impland in Carcë; meets a tragical end in Carcë.

Key passages

• “Daha cross the Zia Pass: fight with the mantichore: ascent of Koshtra Pivrarcha, entrance into Koshtra Belorn, and entertainment by Queen Sophonisba: Juss’s vision of Goldry bound on Zora: the Queen’s furtherance of their designs: the hippogriff hatched beside the Lake of Ravary: the fatal folly of Mivarsh: Juss in despite of the Queen’s admonitions assays Zora Rach on foot and comes within a little of losing his life.”

  Brandoch Daha crosses the Zia Pass, fights a mantichore, and ascends Koshtra Pivrarcha. He and Juss enter Koshtra Belorn, where Queen Sophonisba hosts them. Juss has a vision of Goldry chained on Zora. The queen helps their plans, and a hippogriff hatches by Lake Ravary. Mivarsh's foolishness leads to disaster. Ignoring the queen's warnings, Juss attempts to climb Zora Rach on foot and nearly dies.

  Summarizes the key events of the Demonland expedition in Impland.

• “Prezmyra Queen of Impland and Laxus king of Pixyland crowned in Carcë: the King sends an expedition to put down Demonland, setting Corsus in chief command thereof: Laxus defeats Volle by sea off Lookinghaven, and Corsus Vizz by land at Crossby Outsikes, Vizz slain on the field: cruel and despiteful policy of Corsus: dissensions betwixt him and Gallandus: great reversal of these disasters by Spitfire, Corsus’s army cut in pieces by him on the Rapes of Brima and the survivors besieged in Owlswick: discontent of the army: Corsus with his own hands murthers Gallandus in Owlswick: tidings brought by Gro to Carcë: Corsus degraded by the King, who commissions Corinius as king of Demonland to retrieve the matter: battle of Thremnir’s Heugh, with the overthrow of Spitfire’s power: Corinius crowned in Owlswick: arrest of Corsus and his sons and their despatch home to Witchland.”

  Prezmyra and Laxus are crowned in Carcë. The King sends Corsus to conquer Demonland. Laxus defeats Volle at sea, and Corsus kills Vizz in battle. Corsus's cruel policies cause conflict with Gallandus. Spitfire destroys Corsus's army, besieging the survivors in Owlswick. Corsus murders Gallandus. Gro brings news to Carcë; the King degrades Corsus and appoints Corinius. Corinius wins at Thremnir's Heugh, is crowned in Owlswick, and arrests Corsus and his sons.

  Describes the Witchland campaign in Demonland and the rise of Corinius.