Helene is also chosen along with two of Elias’s school enemies.

He is chosen by the Augurs who are immortal beings that built the school and also happen to be able to read minds. His plans to desert are ruined when he is chosen for the Trials that will select the next Emperor. His birth mother happens to be the leader, or Commandant of the Military School.Įlias has several friends the best of which is another Mask, a girl named Helene who he also seems to have some feelings towards. Elias is sympathetic to those outside the Martial race in part due to the fact that he was raised by Tribal foster parents because his mother abandoned him shortly after he was born. They are called the Mask for the silver masks that they always wear. He has been training since he was very young to be a Mask, powerful and strong military leaders that generally terrorize the Scholar race. Meanwhile, Elias is preparing to flee from military school, an offense punishable by death if he is caught. When she finds them they agree to help her, but only after they learn that she is the secret daughter of legendary former Resistance leaders. She decides she must find the Resistance so that they can help her save her brother. Laia flees and later feels cowardly for not trying to help her brother. Raiders come to arrest her brother and in the chaos kill her grandparents who she has been living with since her parents were killed many years ago. The book begins as Laia learns that her brother is working for the Resistance. Details – What happened in An Ember in the Ashes? They agree that together they will attempt to release Laia’s brother and likely meet other foes again including the new emperor Marcus. But in the end she gains courage and helps Elias escape his execution. Laia is used as a pawn in a bigger underground war.

He is sentenced to death for his failures. Elias completes his Trials but in the end is forced to choose Laia’s life over winning the Empire. Eventually sparks begin to fly between these two characters. He is chosen as one of four aspirants to compete to replace the current Emperor.

Elias, who is sympathetic to the harsh conditions in his country, is a student and a Mask at the same Academy. Laia, of the Scholar race, must become a slave at the Martial Academy so that she can spy for the Resistance in an effort to bargain for help to break her brother out of prison. ***** Everything below is a SPOILER *****

An ember in the ashes