The Iron Trial

“KILL THE CHILD.”

The mystery of Call’s identity is introduced in the exposition through the message engraved on the cave floor by Sarah, Call’s mother. Sarah refers impersonally in the message to her son, Call, as “the child,” aware that the true soul of her son has been supplanted by the soul of Constantine Madden, the Enemy of Death, whose body died. The mystery of this message is not resolved until the novel’s conclusion, though it is continually hinted at throughout the novel, such as when Call’s father suggests that Call doesn’t know what he is.

“Call’s perpetual scowl, messy black hair, and suspicious gray eyes were well known to his neighbors.”

Through his appearance and expression, Call is characterized as a solitary child, mistrustful and isolated from his peers. Later, Call’s independence comes to resemble defensiveness; he feels inadequate and ashamed because of his disability and therefore avoids forming connections with others. Call finally finds a sense of Friendship and Belonging at the Magisterium, where he befriends Aaron and Tamara and develops magical skills that build his self-confidence and reduce the importance of his physical disability.

“Then he’d looked around and saw that the concrete of the playground had cracked open. A long fissure ran from the swings all the way to the shed wall, splitting the small building in half.”

The Danger and Power of Magic is implied in Call’s unintentional act of magic, which breaks open the concrete of the playground. Call’s magic is called forth because of his strong emotions in this moment; he feels frustrated, angry, and hurt as his bullies attack him. This incident foreshadows Call’s future at the Magisterium.

“In that moment, despite everything his father had told Call, he wanted to go to the Magisterium. It no longer seemed dark or scary, but amazing. Like being an explorer or going to another planet.”

This moment reflects the theme of Friendship and Belonging as Call feels an inexplicable pull toward the Magisterium. As a person with magical abilities, Call belongs at the Magisterium, despite his father’s warnings, and this sense of belonging is implied in his feeling of excitement and amazement. The theme of Fate and Destiny is also alluded to; as the reincarnated spirit of Constantine Madden, Call is destined to be drawn back to the Magisterium and learn to access his immense, latent powers as a Makar.

“He glared furiously at the ball that he knew he couldn’t reach, thinking, I hate you, I hate you, I hate—There was a sharp boom, and the red ball caught on fire. Someone shrieked—it sounded like Kylie, but Call hoped it was Jasper. Everyone, including Master Rockmaple, was staring as the red ball burned merrily away like it had been full of fireworks.”

Call’s immense magical abilities are illustrated at the Magisterium trial when the red ball catches fire due to Call’s furious concentration. Although Call can’t yet adequately control his magic, the power he wields is clear. This moment alludes to The Danger and Power of Magic.

“The mages don’t care about anyone or anything except advancing their studies. They steal children from their families. They are monsters. They experiment on children. They are the reason your mother is dead.”

Alastair’s view of the magical world is shaped by the tragic death of his wife, Sarah, at the Cold Massacre. For him, the mages and the Magisterium symbolize violence, death, and danger. His worst fear is realized when Call is selected for the Magisterium despite his low entrance scores. 

“There was a vast entrance hall, bigger than any inside space Call could have ever imagined. It could have held three basketball courts and still have room left over. The floor was the same glittering mica he’d seen in the illusion back at the airplane hangar, but the walls were covered with flowstone, which made it look like thousands of melting candles had slicked the walls in dripped wax. Stalagmites rose up all along the edges of the room, and huge stalactites hung down, nearly touching one another in places. There was a river, a bright glowing blue like luminous sapphire, cutting through the room, flowing in through an archway in one wall and out through another, a carved rock bridge crossing it.”

Through language conveying the enormity and beauty of the space, the Magisterium operates as a symbol of wonder and mystery that encapsulates the world of magic more broadly. This description alludes to The Danger and Power of Magic.

“‘So do you have any family here?’ ‘No,’ Aaron said, glancing away from Call as though he didn’t like talking about it. ‘No family anywhere. I heard about the Magisterium from a girl I used to know. She saw this trick I did sometimes when I was bored—make dust motes dance around and form into shapes. She said she had a brother who went here and even though he wasn’t supposed to tell her about it, he had. After he graduated and she left to go live with him, I started practicing for the Trial.’ Call squinted at Aaron across his pile of mushrooms. There was something about the too-casual way he told the story that made Call wonder if maybe there was more to it. He didn’t want to ask, though. He hated it when people pried into his life. Maybe Aaron did, too.”

Aaron is reticent about his life; later, Aaron reveals that he was shuffled between foster homes before being selected for the Magisterium. He is ashamed of this past and therefore doesn’t open up to Call about it until much later. This exchange characterizes Aaron as a mysterious figure; later, his true identity as a Makar will be revealed.

“‘I took you on,’ Rufus continued, ‘because you do have skill and power, but you also have a great deal of anger. And you have almost no control at all. I did not want you to be a burden on one of the other mages. Nor did I want one of them to choose you for the wrong reasons.’ His eyes flicked toward the tornado, spinning in its upside-down jar. ‘Many years ago, I made a mistake with a student. A mistake that had grave consequences. Taking you on is my penance.’”

While Master Rufus is vague here, later plot developments imply that he is referring to Constantine Madden, who became the Enemy of Death. Master Rufus allowed Constantine to train with Master Joseph instead of retaining Constantine as his own student; this decision had disastrous consequences. Master Rufus senses something similar in Call, which alludes to the fact that Call essentially is Constantine—his soul entered Call’s body when Call was an infant during the Cold Massacre.

“‘No one’s ever stuck up for me like you guys did tonight.’ ‘Did you actually say something nice to us?’ Tamara asked him. ‘Are you feeling okay?’”

The growing friendship between Tamara, Aaron, and Call is illustrated in this conversation, where Call uncharacteristically makes himself vulnerable and expresses his gratitude to Tamara and Aaron for advocating for him. Call’s character development is evident here. He is able to come out of his shell due to the sense of companionship and belonging that he experiences at the Magisterium, alluding to the theme of Friendship and Belonging.

“You don’t understand—it’s too dangerous. Call, you must listen to me. You don’t know what you are.”

Alastair tells his son, Call, that Call doesn’t know what he is. This confusing comment expands the mystery of Call’s identity and alludes to the theme of Fate and Destiny. Despite Alastair’s wish that Call remain ignorant of the world of magic and his true identity, it seems predestined that Call should go to the Magisterium, discover the truth of his identity, and decide who he will be.

“‘Everything would be different if we had a Makar on our side.’ Master Milagros tucked her pink lock of hair behind her ear nervously. ‘This year’s entering students had exceptional Trial scores. Is it possible that our Makar could be among them? Rufus, you’ve had experience with this before.’”

This quote alludes to Master Rufus’s role as Constantine Madden’s Master, as well as the Fate and Destiny aspect of Call’s selection. The narrative suggests that it is predestined for Call to be selected by Master Rufus once Call’s true identity is revealed. Furthermore, the pressure on Aaron and then on Call as they are revealed to be Makars is alluded to; they have the weight of the Magisterium’s expectations on them, although Call learns that the Enemy of Death is no longer living in the way they have believed.

“If there’s something wrong with me, I want Alastair to keep it to himself.”

Call’s reflections demonstrate his growing knowledge that there is something different, and perhaps sinister, about his identity. His fear over this is apparent, resulting in him not wanting his father to tell him who he truly is.

“But once the Enemy hears about him, if he hasn’t already, who knows what he’ll do.”

Tamara points out that Aaron is not safe; as a Makar, he will become a target for the Enemy of Death. This foreshadows Aaron’s abduction by Master Joseph. However, Tamara’s concerns intentionally mask the story’s twist: the Enemy of Death is no longer operational, as he died during the Cold Massacre and placed his soul in Call’s body.

“‘I’m not going back,’ Call said. ‘Aaron’s my best friend and I’m not leaving him if he’s in danger.’”

Call illustrates his loyalty to Aaron when he determinedly follows Havoc through the forest to find him despite the immense pain in his legs. Call’s character development is clear here; he has grown from the solitary and angry person at the novel’s opening. This passage also signals Friendship and Belonging as an important theme.

“Some were standing upright and others leaning against the walls, but then he realized two things—one, that their eyes were all closed, which would have been very strange for mannequins, and two, that their chests rose and fell as they breathed.”

The Chaos-ridden humans, whose blend of animate and inanimate qualities disturbs Call, allude to The Danger and Power of Magic. The mannequin-like, reanimated corpses reveal the threat of the Enemy of Death’s experiments.

“‘“Oh, Master Lemuel is so mean. He scares me.” And they fired him!’ Drew laughed, the innocent mask slipping away again, showing the coldness underneath.”

Drew’s characterization as fearful and submissive is revealed to have been a facade; Call sees Drew’s true nature as cold, calculating, and manipulative. Tension rises as the moment of the novel’s mystery’s reveal approaches and Drew’s previously obscured motives for escaping the Magisterium will soon be made clear.

“His face was half hidden by a silver mask that covered his eyes and nose. Below it, Call could see the jut of a chin, a neck slashed with white scars. The scars were new, but the mask was familiar. Call had seen it before in pictures. Had heard it described. A mask worn to cover the scars of an explosion that had almost killed the wearer. A mask worn to terrify. A mask worn by the Enemy of Death. ‘Callum Hunt,’ said the Enemy. ‘I was hoping it would be you.’”

Call’s assumption that the masked individual is the Enemy of Death misleads the reader. Earlier, the narrative revealed that the explosion in the Magisterium injured both Constantine Madden and Master Joseph. This is a hint that the masked, scarred individual may be Master Joseph, but Call does not yet realize this.

“‘No, Callum Hunt. I am not the Enemy of Death,’ he said. ‘You are.’”

The novel’s twist is revealed when Master Joseph tells Call that Call is the Enemy of Death; Constantine Madden’s soul usurped Callum Hunt’s when Call was a baby at the Cold Massacre. Call has no memory of this. This explanation clarifies Alastair’s comment that Call doesn’t understand what he is as well as Drew’s confusing comments in the Magisterium.

“Drew searched Call’s face, his own expression turning from confusion, to concern, to dawning horror. ‘You don’t know,’ he said finally. ‘How can you not know?’ ‘Not know what?’ Call demanded. ‘You’re freaking me out, Drew.’ ‘Who are you?’ Drew said, half in a whisper, and then backed up a step. ‘I was wrong about everything,’ he said. ‘I have to go.’”

Drew’s strange comments expound on the mystery of Call’s identity. Before this exchange, Master Joseph and Drew assumed that Call knew his identity and was simply keeping a low profile to guard his secret. This moment drives the plot as Drew escapes from the Magisterium to tell Master Joseph that Call does not know who he is. Aaron then reveals himself to be a Makar, saving his friends from the Chaos-ridden wolves.

“Even though what Joseph was saying was insane, there was something in it that pulled at Call, something his mind couldn’t let go of.”

Call senses the inherent truth in Master Joseph’s unbelievable story. This adds legitimacy to the strange tale, reflecting the theme of Fate and Destiny.

“The same gray as Call’s. Gray and empty as a winter sky.”

The fact that the shade of Call’s eyes is identical to Constantine Madden’s supports Master Joseph’s claim. This suggests that Call’s soul is indeed Constantine’s. Call’s gray eyes are a symbol of Fate and Destiny.

“‘And this Drew—he didn’t say anything to you?’

‘Like what?’

‘Anything about—about you,’ his father said cautiously.”

Alastair Hunt knows or suspects that Constantine Madden supplanted his son’s soul in infancy. Nevertheless, he loves Call and wants to protect him from the knowledge of his identity, knowing that this would bring Call immense pain and confusion. For this reason, Alastair tries to ascertain whether Drew made Call aware of his true identity. Call lies, still grappling with the implications of the revelation on his autonomy and individuality.