im thinking about how when Mercymorn sees Gideon-in-Harrow, and freaks out, she says “now i have to take the river all the way home and fight my way through anastasia’s horrid tomb cult” (HtN p. 409). im thinking abt this because the lyctors are powerful. like, can kill a whole planet in <5 minutes kind of incomprehensibly powerful. why was Mercymorn even thinking about having to fight her way through the tomb cult? like yeah she doesn’t sound intimidated, just annoyed…but annoying a lyctor is still a massive feat, and the 9th as we know it only has old people, dead people, and bones. the only fighting shape necromancer was Harrow, the only fighting shape non-necromancer was Gideon. maybe Aiglamanine. even if we dont consider the fact that Harrow&Gideon are not on the 9th to cause Mercy any trouble, 1 normal necromancer, 1 octogenarian swords master, and a 19 year old jock would barely even be noticed by a lyctor at full power, much less actually annoy her or cause any trouble. what is going on in Anastasia’s house. I don’t know if I’m a dog barking up the wrong tree here but I feel like there’s big secrets left to be revealed about the 9th house. grinds teeth aggressively September 13th can’t come fast enough