Summary of Amarah
Princess Isa, half-sister to King Sapora, has turned traitor. The divide between their ideals has widened since Sapora came to power, and along with the bullying tactics of Tacio, have driven a wedge between them, pushing Isa away. In Taban Yul, the capital city of Val Sharis, Isa leads the rebel uprising attempt to rescue their leader, Palom’s former lover, Lathri. The attempt fails, resulting in Kylos being captured and subsequently tortured by Tacio, while Isa feigns innocence to keep herself safe.
Amarah travels with an old sky pirate ally, Traego, and his crew on a treasure hunt for a huge bounty. Although Traego is sketchy on the details, Amarah needs the gold to get herself a new airship—having lost both Khanna and an eye to the Arillian, Jato. Kohl, Jato’s father and another ally of Amarah’s, travels with her.
While flying through a low mountain range, they come across Morgen, who is posted in Povmar, a remote town in the distant reaches of Corhaven—where he is hiding from Sapora’s wrath. Amarah invites him to join her, which he declines.
It transpires that the “treasure” is of Varkain origin—an ancient, living weapon known as an Ark—of which four were created, but lost to Linaria millennia ago. Amarah and Kohl are terrified of the Ark, but Traego is driven by gold, and steals a sword from Veynothi’s tomb as proof to his buyer—King Sapora.
Meanwhile, in the far north of Val Sharis, Palom and his dragon companion Leillu guard a large convoy of Ittallan heading to the capital from rampaging dragons and opportunistic thieves—unaware they are part of a rebel faction who stand against Sapora. Odi, the son of an Archigo, is the influential leader of this group. Palom is accompanied by a young Ittallan, Karvou, who he reluctantly takes under his wing.
Having seen his old ally, Morgen rethinks his life. Having committed treason by aiding Isa, he fled the Corhaven capital for fear of Sapora tracking him down. He decides to abandon the Imperial Guard and travel to Amarah’s old tutor, Topeko, in the mage city of Berel. The Samolen magic can be manipulated in countless forms, and he hopes to figure out how to resurrect those lost to Linaria—perhaps bringing Moroda back.
While travelling to Traego’s base in Estoria, a collection of tropical islands to the south-east of Linaria, Amarah and Traego are set upon by sky pirates. A battle ensues in the sky, during which Traego is the victor after using Samolen magic-fuelled weapons. Veynothi’s sword falls overboard in the chaos. Amarah leaps into the ocean to claim it before it is lost, and ends up fleeing from an enormous sea monster that seems drawn to the Varkain blade.
During Palom’s journey south, the Ittallan encounter Jato and her Arillians hunting down dragons—narrowly escaping their attacks. They observe an adult dragon burning a tiny hamlet to the ground, and Palom fears their wrath, for it seems to know no bounds.
With Sapora more distant than ever, and feeling trapped during the preparations for Summercourt, one of the largest events in Taban Yul during which all the country’s leaders come together to create a new council, Isa takes advantage of a window of opportunity and frees Kylos. She is caught red-handed by Tacio, but Sapora appears at the last minute to pardon her.
Amarah meets the rest of Traego’s crew when they return to his base. The sky pirates of Estoria are carefree but lead violent lives—going as far as trapping Arillians in their “drowning pits” to claim gold for their capture. Traego sends one of his pilots, Antar, to Taban Yul to negotiate Veynothi’s bounty reward with Sapora.
Disheartened by seeing his people slaughtered for gold, Kohl grows distant, and walks along a remote beach. He comes across Fogu, a former general in the Arillian army, and one of his oldest friends. They are overjoyed at seeing one another, especially after surviving the horrors of Aciel’s campaign. They decide to leave Estoria and return home—though Kohl wishes to visit Berel first. He believes the Arks and the Valta Forinja are evil, and driving the dragons’ rage. The original Valta Forinja are all held in Berel University, and would therefore be a clear target. Instead of running and hiding, he wants to warn the scholars of Berel and offer them what help he can, before returning to his people on the floating islands.
Antar arrives in Taban Yul and claims his Captain, Traego, has knowledge of Veynothi’s location. Sapora is skeptical and wants proof, but he gives the sky pirate gold to encourage him. Recognising Traego as a famous sky pirate, Isa chases Antar down and asks him to deliver a message to Amarah for her: come here and help. She hopes the sky pirate’s skill will free Lathri and finally get her away from the nest of vipers.
During Summercourt, many Archigo and leaders arrive from across Val Sharis and Sereth—including Vasil and his full retinue. Sapora speaks with his father’s Valendrin—a blood mage—and discusses breaking the Arks’ seals with only himself, Tacio, and Isa present.
Realising Sapora is close to releasing the Arks, Isa races away—warning Solvi, now part of the Ittallan uprising—only to be arrested by Tacio for conspiracy and treason.
Dragons attack the mage city of Berel and burn parts of the university. Although Morgen has been studying the life magic of Ra and the peaceful teachings of the Samolen, he cannot stand by and not help others. Ignoring the orders of the Kalos—teachers—Morgen grabs his forbidden Valta Forinja and defends himself and the city—injuring a dragon and driving it away. Instead of praise, Morgen is severely reprimanded for breaking their laws. His Valta Forinja is taken—locked in the university, and some of his memories are wiped by Topeko prior to his judgement from the Arch-Kalos.
In Estoria, the sea monster attacks again—Kohl spots it before anyone else and warns the sky pirates. A battle ensues on the shores of the beach. Amarah uses her Valta Forinja, but is crippled by a panic attack from the weapon’s dark influence. Traego kicks it away, relieving her. They manage to drive off the monster, and Traego loans Amarah the gold to get herself a new airship.
Palom, Leillu, Odi, Karvou, and their convoy arrive in Taban Yul. One of their number, an old woman named Yfaila, immediately leaves the Ittallan and is escorted into the city by some Cerastes who have been awaiting her arrival. She has sold them information in return for her safety and plenty of gold—the location of an Ark. Angered at Yfaila’s betrayal, Palom enters Taban Yul and sees how much it has changed. Varkain are everywhere, Sapora’s Sevastos flies overhead, and parts of the city are still damaged. He is reunited with his niece, Solvi, and sees Isa’s arrest. Solvi says Isa has a plan and they are to await help from Amarah.
Having said his goodbyes to Amarah, Kohl heads to his rendezvous with Fogu, but is captured mid-air by another sky pirate troupe. Fogu sees Kohl’s capture, and frees him from the drowning pits, obliterating part of Estoria in doing so, and the two flee the country.
Amarah navigates the enormous Arillian storm surrounding Taban Yul—created by Jato and her Arillians—and arrives in Taban Yul with some sky pirates on Traego’s ship, as her new one is still being refurbished, and time is of the essence according to Isa’s desperate plea. She has brought Veynothi’s sword as proof for Sapora’s bounty.. She is met at the hangar by Kylos, who brings them to a tavern where the sky pirates are reunited with Palom and the rebels. They hatch a plan to free Isa, Lathri, and their followers.