Scarecrow Trials

Haunted by memories of the night Venn Vanished, Rhyd Ballard's life morphed into shadows, into a war against the law-keeping Crows who roamed the Levels arresting dissidents, radicals, addicts and those deemed traitors to the City. The Scarecrow was born that night, to stand alone against the Founder, against the Crows, determined to save those who could not save themselves…or die trying. He had nothing left to live for. But no one, not Rhyd, not the Crows, not the Founder, could foresee the day when the Outside would creep into their lives in the most innocent of guises, exposing secrets that would either pint Hebanthe Falls on a path towards ruin or salvation.

The Club of Spades was real. Rhyd held the proof in his hand. One simple coin, a spade crossed with swords embossed upon it. It was more than proof of the Club. The battered piece of metal was proof that the Core, too, was real. It was proof that, within that rumored Core, Skelter had survived. Skelter was alive. Now, as Hebanthe Falls struggles to regain balance beneath the competing weights of the newness of Outside and the brako eating at her from within, it was up to the Scarecrow to set aside his war with the brako to find the Core, find a way to set Skelter free. Before the thirty-day pact with the death ran its course. Before the brako brought the city to its knees.

Haythem Kemway must be found. Scarecrow, struggling against his injuries, is on the hunt. In the aftermath of the Core's breach, the search is underway for a kidnapper, a terrorist, a killer. Bugorra, brako, and Talkers alike seek what they hope will return stability to the City in the Four Falls. Though none agree on what that is. With buried secrets unleashed and the lure of Outside seeping deeper into Hebenon's pores, the fragile peace won after the Coup is threatened. Scarecrow does not know if he has the strength to fight the forces threatening those he loves, those waging war for control. Not even Scarecrow knows if restoring Founder Kemway will be enough to prevent Hebanthe Falls from collapsing beneath her own weight and devouring the majority of mankind. There is no choice. Scarecrow has to try. Or Hebenon will fall into ruin.