Chain of Gold

With the Mandikhor threat gone and the wounded being healed, the entire Enclave meets at the Sanctuary to take stock of things. All the young Shadowhunters and their parents are present, along with the Blackthorns and Magnus Bane. Charles congratulates James, Christopher, and Cordelia among others for their role in restoring normalcy. Overhearing this, Tatiana stands and accuses James of having demonic ties. As the Enclave erupts into shouts, Tatiana says James—the descendant of a demon—is behind the demon attacks. Will tells Tatiana that Tessa’s parentage is well-known and that everyone accepts their family nevertheless. Moreover, he says, Tatiana has no evidence to back her outrageous claims. Tatiana counters that she did have evidence, but James deliberately burnt it along with Blackthorn Manor. She asks Grace to testify against James. Fearing Grace may lie under pressure, Cordelia interrupts, fibbing that James couldn’t have burnt the manor since he spent the night with her in her room. The alibi is enough to ruin her reputation. Furious, Tatiana claims that, if not James, one of his friends is the arsonist.

Charlotte Fairchild, the Consul, enters the Sanctuary. Tiny in stature but commanding in presence, she calmly announces that the Blackthorn Manor ruins hold evidence that Tatiana used dark magic. Magnus Bane confirms the findings, sharing that Tatiana tried to hire him to summon her son back from the dead (and, though he refused, Magnus kept Tatiana’s secret at the time because he pitied her). Charlotte orders Tatiana’s arrest and exile to the Adamant Citadel, home of the Silent Sisters. James asks Cordelia to come with him so he can ask her something.

When they are alone, James asks Cordelia to abjure her testimony to save her reputation. Cordelia says it would make no difference, since a woman’s honor in their world is a fragile thing that, once broken, cannot be restored. James asks if this is her way of repaying him for saving her life at the burning manor. Cordelia replies simply that she acted out of friendship. James asks Cordelia to marry him: Marriage will save her reputation, and, he says, they can later divorce, freeing them to marry again for love’s sake. He admits that though he isn’t in love with Cordelia, she is his friend. She accepts his proposal, and they tell their parents. The Herondales are very happy at the announcement, but Sona’s eyes are troubled, as if she knows this is Cordelia’s compromise. Lucie is giddy with glee that Cordelia is going to be her sister-in-law.

Later, Cordelia and Alastair discuss the engagement, though she doesn’t tell him that her relationship with James is a sham. Alastair is happy James is doing the honorable thing by his sister. Cordelia worries about Alastair’s feelings, since Charles will soon marry Grace. However, Alastair brushes off her concern.

Only the Merry Thieves and Lucie know James and Cordelia’s marriage is one of convenience. Will and Tessa throw the couple an elaborate engagement party, where Charles gives a speech congratulating the betrothed and announces his own wedding to Grace. After the speech, Charles wants to speak to Alastair—standing with Cordelia—in private. But Alastair insists his sister remain by his side. He indicates he wrote to Charles breaking off their relationship. Alastair tells Charles he cannot live a life of lies. He will choose to love someone who does not hide their relationship.

Grace congratulates James on his engagement to Cordelia, but James tells Grace not to banter with him as being friends makes their situation even more unbearable. He wishes Grace happiness with Charles. When Grace tells him they can be together after a year, James doesn’t respond. Grace leaves. Meanwhile, a recovered Ariadne tells Anna she knows Anna visited her in the infirmary. She promises Anna that she will break through Anna’s defensive exterior and win her back.

James and Cordelia finally share a dance, all eyes on them. Though both know their wedding is a pretense, they cannot help but enjoy each other’s company. Cordelia accepts that her time with James, the love of her life, is limited, but she is determined to enjoy it nevertheless.

Matthew drinks heavily at the party. In a moment of weakness, he tells Magnus that James’s and Cordelia’s engagement will last only a year. Magnus privately disagrees, knowing the Herondales wed for life. Matthew’s feelings for Cordelia are obvious. Later, Alastair approaches Thomas, Matthew, and Lucie in a spirit of reconciliation. However, Matthew lashes out, telling Thomas that Alastair started the terrible rumor at school that Thomas was a “bastard.” The rumor nearly ruined Thomas’s family. Disenchanted, Thomas turns away from Alastair, who then leaves. Lucie meets Grace briefly and tells her she wants to help resurrect Jesse—whether he wants it or not. Grace wants to know more, the emeralds in her ears shining “like the jeweled eyes of cats” (584).

Before being taken to the Adamant Citadel, Tatiana makes one final visit to Chiswick Manor. She enters the shed where Jesse’s body is still pristine in its crystal coffin. As Tatiana gazes upon Jesse, Belial appears before her as a swarm of dust. Tatiana is angry; though she did Belial’s bidding, he has not kept his promises of destroying the Lightwoods, the Herondales, and the Carstairs. Even his promise of possessing James failed. Belial tells her he failed only because his enchantment—the silver bracelet—was removed from James’s body. Tatiana assures him that James wears the bracelet again, which pleases Belial. He tells her it was always his plan to get her into the Adamant Citadel, because that is where the metal for the Shadowhunters’ angelic blades is found. Now they can strike together the source of the Shadowhunters’ power. Tatiana smiles. The story continues in the sequel, Chain of Iron.