The Trials of Morrigan Crow

Christmas arrives, and Morrigan receives a stocking full of gifts and a green sled from Jupiter. Jack comes to her room and invites her to go sledding, while Jupiter deals with a lost explorer. This Christmas is her best, as Corvus only ever gifted her bills paid on her behalf. Morrigan lies in the Smoke Room after dinner. Dame Chanda and Kedgeree enter, unaware she is there. She overhears them talking about her lack of knack, and how Jupiter risks imprisonment and losing Hotel Deucalion if police discover she’s in the Free State illegally.

That night, Morrigan roams the halls after experiencing Show Trial nightmares and finds Jupiter in his office. He offers her tea, and she tries again to get answers. When he doesn’t provide them, she demands to return to Jackalfax and leave Hotel Deucalion forever. Jupiter stares into the fireplace, and tells Morrigan that they’ll leave immediately.

Jupiter takes Morrigan to a train called the Gossamer Line. On the Gossamer Line, their bodies (and an anchoring brolly umbrella) remain in Nevermoor while their spirits travel to Crow Manor in the Republic. Morrigan finds her family having a party, celebrating with her new twin brothers. Her grandmother is in the Hall of Dead Crows, a memorial for deceased family. Morrigan’s portrait has a place of honor, surprising her. Her grandmother sees and hears her, and is furious that Jupiter brought her back. She knew about the Hunt of Smoke and Shadow and the Free State, and feared for Morrigan’s life should she have remained home. Jupiter reveals Morrigan’s grandmother signed her bid contract to give her a better life. Morrigan decides to stay at Hotel Deucalion.

Upon her return to Hotel Deucalion, Morrigan is stopped by Dame Chanda. She gives Morrigan a picture of Ezra Squall to help her brush up on Nevermoor history. Morrigan realizes Mr. Jones is Squall.

Morrigan tries to tell Jupiter that she’s been seeing Ezra Squall around the Free State since arriving, but loses courage. She shows Squall’s picture to Hawthorne, who agrees it’s Mr. Jones. He convinces her to tell Jupiter before the Show Trial the next day. Morrigan goes to Jupiter’s office and finds Fen, who tells her that Jupiter isn’t at the hotel and no one knows when he’ll return. She reminds Morrigan that Jupiter promises to be present for the trial, which comforts her.

The Show Trial begins, and the Wundrous Society candidates demonstrate their respective knacks. Noelle sings well, earning her second place in the final nine, and Hawthorne rides dragons, earning him first place; Anah, Noelle’s former bullying target, performs a surgery blindfolded. Morrigan becomes nervous in Jupiter’s absence. Then, Baz Charlton presents his eighth candidate, Cadence; Morrigan seems to be the only one who remembers her. The arena lights dim, and a projected film plays.