Book Summary – The Lords of Time – White City – Book 3

Book summary by chapter of The Lords of Time. Includes spoilers from the Villa Suso murder to the end of the book. In a Vitoria split between medieval echoes and modern traumas, Unai tracks crimes foretold centuries ago, only to find the pen that wrote the novel also wielded the poison. Ramiro Alvar is not just the author: he’s a battlefield of two souls. As the past gets walled up in chronicles and stone, the present bleeds through fractured identities and family ties time desperately tries to mend.

Unai and Diago before the medieval tower of Nogaranzia with the full moon in the background – Chapter-by-chapter Summary of The Lords of Time

Introduction – The Lords of Time

Some books are written in ink—others in inherited blood. In The Lords of Time, Eva García Sáenz de Urturi concludes her trilogy with a story that fuses history and the present, fiction and reality, in a narrative puzzle as sharp as the swords clashing within its pages. The White City becomes more than a setting for crimes; it turns into a palimpsest where sins from the 12th century echo into 21st-century murders.

Unai López de Ayala—Kraken—faces the most intricate case of his career: a killer replicating medieval methods described in a historical novel whose true authorship is shrouded in mystery. As timelines blur and identities fracture, psychology merges with heraldry, and death finds its throne both in the Middle Ages and the modern day.

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Reading Order ➤

Chapter Navigation

• Chapter 1 Summary – The Lords of Time – The Palace of Villa Suso Unai

• Chapter 10 Summary – The Lords of Time – The Enigma of Ramiro Alvar

• Chapter 20 Summary – The Lords of Time – K, +D1

• Chapter 30 Summary – The Lords of Time – The Oak of Judgment

• Chapter 40 Summary – The Lords of Time – The Watch Path Diago Vela

• Chapter 50 Summary – The Lords of Time – The Storm Diago Vela

• Chapter 60 Summary – The Lords of Time – The Room Unai

Chapter 1 Summary – The Lords of Time – The Palace of Villa Suso Unai

Unai attends the long-awaited presentation of the novel The Lords of Time with Alba, their daughter Deba, and his family. The historical novel, set in the 12th century, has captivated the city—including Unai himself. The event takes place at the Palace of Villa Suso, where mystery surrounds the author, Diego Veilaz, a name believed to be a pseudonym. As the guest archaeologist discusses striking similarities between the novel and Vitoria’s actual history, a man bursts in calling for medical help. Unai, Alba, and Estíbaliz spring into action and find the lifeless body of a towering man in the bathrooms, likely Antón Lasaga, a well-known and reserved businessman. The odor in the room suggests poisoning, and Unai recognizes signs pointing to arachnidism. They decide to lock down the building, suspecting the killer may still be inside. A new case unfolds, intertwining literature, history, and death.

Chapter 2 Summary – The Lords of Time – The North Gate Diago Vela

In the harsh winter of 1192, Diago Vela returns to the village of Gasteiz after a two-year absence, met with disbelief by locals who thought him dead. His snowy, silent arrival leads him straight to the North Gate, demanding to see his sister Lyra. But the woman who embraces him is not Lyra, but Alix, the new blacksmith—fierce and skilled with weapons—accompanied by her jealous owl. At the forge, he reunites with his cousin Gunnarr and learns that his brother Nagorno is now betrothed to Onneca, Diago’s former fiancée. Fueled by betrayal, Diago goes to the House of the Count of Maestu and witnesses the final act of the wedding: Nagorno and Onneca consummating the marriage. Torn between fury and disillusionment, Diago suppresses his thirst for vengeance. The family betrayal cuts deep.

Chapter 3 Summary – The Lords of Time – The Rooftops of San Miguel Unai

After discovering the body at Villa Suso, Unai rushes upstairs and alerts Alba, ordering the palace sealed to trap the potential killer. However, he spots a suspicious figure ascending the stairs: a nun in white robes with a black veil. Ignoring his commands, she escapes across the terrace and onto the rooftops of San Miguel Church with uncanny agility. Unai chases her to a dead end, but the nun vanishes without a trace. Frustrated, he calls for Alba’s help and instructs that the nun not be mentioned during interviews to avoid false memories. All signs point to a connection between the murder, the novel’s mysterious author, and the elusive nun. With confusion mounting, the investigation is just beginning, and the questions keep multiplying without a single clear answer.

Chapter 4 Summary – The Lords of Time – The South Gate Diago Vela

Diago Vela awakens to news of the sudden death of the Count of Maestu, his former father-in-law, found lifeless near the South Gate. Upon arrival, he notices suspicious signs on the body, including blood in the urine, and with Alix’s help, performs a crude test—rubbing the man’s viscera with rabbit skin—which confirms the presence of cantharidin, a lethal aphrodisiac. He suspects poisoning. He then confronts his brother Nagorno, who insists he had no role in the letter that falsely announced Diago’s death two years earlier, a letter sealed with the royal crest. Tension rises, but Diago maintains a fragile truce. Their conversation is cut short by the funeral procession, which ends in disaster when the house’s old staircase collapses under the crowd’s weight. Chaos ensues, leaving Diago trapped among rubble and wounded.

Chapter 5 Summary – The Lords of Time – Pintorería Street Unai

As Unai and his team analyze Antón Lasaga’s death, the forensic report reveals internal abrasions suggesting poisoning. The substance is confirmed to be cantharidin, a powerful aphrodisiac causing extreme vasodilation, lethal to those with Marfan syndrome, as Lasaga had. A link emerges to another unresolved case: the disappearance of the Nájera sisters. DNA analysis confirms that blood found on a rug belonged to Oihana, the younger sister. The apartment scene appears staged to mislead investigators. In a tense meeting with Commissioner Medina, they review inconsistencies in the "Frozen" case: a door locked from the inside, no noise, and no footprints. The theories of abduction or escape lose credibility; it all seems orchestrated. The presence of cantharidin in Lasaga ties both cases with a disturbing common thread.

Chapter 6 Summary – The Lords of Time – The Old Forge Diago Vela

Diago wakes up amid the ruins of the collapse, injured, aided by Alix, who has synesthesia and sees “colors” in people—describing Diago as blue. Together, they help rescue survivors, mourning the death of four neighbors. García de Pamplona, a young bishop and Onneca’s cousin, arrives to lead the funerals. Later, Diago visits the family forge, where Lyra and Alix recount the changes in the town during his absence. Power has shifted to foreign nobles like the Mendozas, and Nagorno’s decisions as the new count have strained relations with locals. New regulations harm the fish vendors, forcing them to sell outside town. The Gasteiz Diago once knew is gone: he finds a divided community, unjust rule, and the lingering echo of betrayal.

Chapter 7 Summary – The Lords of Time – Suspicion Falls on Irene Lasaga

After confirming Antón Lasaga was poisoned with cantharidin, Unai and his team interview two of his children. The eldest, Andoni, accuses his sister Irene of manipulating their father out of ambition, while the younger brother tries to stop him. Unai senses a family conflict over inheritance. Along with Estíbaliz and Milán, he visits Irene in Armentia. Visibly shaken, she speaks of her bond with her father, her education, and her rise in the family business. She denies involvement in her parents’ deaths and offers to cooperate. While examining Antón’s library, Unai suspects someone else may have had interest in his literary estate. Meanwhile, Milán searches the web for traces of cantharidin sales, and Peña gathers intel on the mysterious nun spotted at the medieval market.

Chapter 8 Summary – The Lords of Time – The Publisher and the Shadow of the Ghost Author

Unai, Estíbaliz, and Milán visit publisher Pruden at the Álava-Esquivel palace, a decaying yet storied place. Pruden reveals that the author of The Lords of Time used the pseudonym Diego Veilaz and contacted him through a private email known only to his twenty-eight writers. He suspects the writer might be Ramiro Alvar Nograro, owner of a medieval tower in the Valdegovía valley. Milán traces the author’s IP to that very tower. Estíbaliz recalls seeing a Dominican habit there, matching descriptions from the crime scene. When Unai asks if actresses were hired for the book event, Pruden denies it. He describes Ramiro as a shy, wealthy man of noble lineage who lives in seclusion, uninterested in money or public appearances.

Chapter 9 Summary – The Lords of Time – Diago Vela’s Return and the Forbidden Encounter

Diago recounts his unexpected reunion with Onneca at the Mill Stream in the winter of 1192. She stands barefoot in the snow, torn between sorrow and longing, revealing she built him a symbolic tomb when she thought him dead. They rekindle their love passionately in the ruins of the old mill. Onneca explains she married Nagorno to protect herself after the false news of Diago’s death. They speak of changes in the town: oppressive taxes, the arrival of powerful families, and noble pressure. Diago braids her hair and gives her his boots before parting ways. As they leave, Nagorno watches from horseback. Though Onneca tries to act normal, Diago knows his brother understands everything that just transpired.

Chapter 10 Summary – The Lords of Time – The Enigma of Ramiro Alvar

After receiving news of Alba’s mother’s accident, Unai wraps up his interview with Ramiro Alvar at the Nograro Tower. The tower’s young master, dressed like a priest and behaving anachronistically, denies being the author of the novel, though he displays knowledge of cantharidin’s history. His narcissism, disdain for mundane matters, and attraction to Estíbaliz unsettle Unai, especially when she agrees to a boat ride in the medieval moat. Meanwhile, Unai inspects the tower and notes that the Dominican habit mannequin is not on permanent display. Just before leaving, Peña calls: the Nájera sisters have been found alive, walled in inside an apartment in the Old Quarter. One is dead, but Oihana is still breathing. Stunned, Unai realizes the horror they’re facing is more intricate than they ever imagined.

Chapter 11 Summary – The Lords of Time – The Walling and the Killer’s Profile

Unai and Estíbaliz drive back to Vitoria while processing the visit to the tower and the discovery of the sisters. Estíbaliz admits that Ramiro Alvar intrigues her, although she couldn’t get any real answers from him. They both agree he is not the author of the novel, but someone who is affected by its story. Meanwhile, Milán and Peña discover Oihana alive and her sister dead after breaking down a brick wall. The stench and the scene are chilling. Oihana, emaciated and covered in dust, barely survives but responds to resuscitation. Unai analyzes how the walling echoes rituals described in the novel, ruling out the possibility of a common reader being the culprit, as the book had not yet been released. He concludes the killer had early access to the manuscript. Estíbaliz states Alvar doesn’t seem like the author, but one page in particular caught her attention.

Chapter 12 Summary – The Lords of Time – Diago Suspects Nagorno

Diago Vela leaves the mill, abandoning Onneca and Nagorno with his new horse, Olbia. At the Romana inn, he meets his cousin Héctor and entrusts him with a royal letter that declared him dead. They compare it with other documents signed by King Sancho VI and confirm the letter’s authenticity, though Diago can’t understand why someone would orchestrate his disappearance. Héctor confirms that something shady is going on in the town, including abusive taxes and power misuse under Nagorno’s rule. Diago decides to reclaim his title and curb the injustice. Later, he speaks with a boy named Lope, the innkeeper’s son, who secretly sells cantharidin. Lope reveals he sold three doses to the son of Ruy de Maturana, a young man with a crazed look. Diago begins to suspect there’s more behind his would-be father-in-law’s poisoning and that Nagorno may be more involved than he seems.

Chapter 13 Summary – The Lords of Time – Four Rooftops and a Disturbing Secret

At home, Unai reflects on a devastating day marked by his mother-in-law’s surgery and the discovery of the walled-in Nájera sisters. As Deba sleeps, he and Alba share an intimate moment filled with silence, tension, and emotional revelations. Emotionally overwhelmed, Alba confesses her decision to leave her job as deputy commissioner to return to Laguardia, manage the family hotel, and raise Deba in a calmer setting. The conversation deepens in pain when Deba casually mentions “twenty-two dead,” a phrase she heard at daycare—referring to her father's past as Kraken. This comment highlights the weight of Unai’s history on their family life. While comforting his daughter, Unai has a revelation: the killer used rooftops and skylights to move the girls. He realizes there’s a meticulous plan in motion.

Chapter 14 Summary – The Lords of Time – A Shadow in the Tower of Nograro

Unai crosses paths with Estíbaliz and Ramiro Alvar in the early hours. Estíbaliz has cleverly managed to take Alvar out for drinks in Vitoria to observe his behavior outside his environment. Later, Unai returns alone to the tower under the pretext of retrieving his book but finds a bewildered Ramiro Alvar—timid, friendly, and apparently amnesiac. He claims not to remember the previous visit or the book and firmly denies being the novel’s author. Unai notices multiple inconsistencies—from Alvar’s demeanor to his speech—as if he were a different person. Ramiro mentions having studied various disciplines, including psychiatry, and offers to collaborate to clear suspicions. Disturbed by Alvar’s transformation, Unai leaves and discusses the situation with Estíbaliz, who confirms that Alvar never appeared drunk or lost control. They both question whether they are dealing with amnesia, split personality, or something even darker.

Chapter 15 Summary – The Lords of Time – Saint Agatha and the Oil Beetle Trap

On the eve of Saint Agatha’s Day, Diago Vela visits centenarian Grandma Lucía for her wisdom. There, he encounters Alix de Salcedo, a young blacksmith and three-time widow, who shares her story of loss. They talk about the past, the town walls, and latent dangers. Diago seeks to know who was around the Count of Maestu the night he was poisoned. Alix mentions Ruiz, son of the late Ruy de Maturana. Later, Diago joins the traditional night patrol with the village youth and confronts Ruiz, accusing him of using cantharidin to murder the count. Under pressure, Ruiz tries to flee and viciously beats Diago with the help of two accomplices. Despite his injuries, Diago chases him to the wall, subduing him by throwing his makila. With a guard’s help, he orders Ruiz’s formal arrest. Justice is coming, but violence and betrayal have already taken their toll.

Chapter 16 Summary – The Lords of Time – Two Losses, Two Worlds Drift Apart

Unai receives the devastating news that Oihana, the younger Nájera sister, has died after days of struggle in the hospital. While still processing this, he heads to the hospital to meet Alba, only to find that her mother, Nieves, has also passed away. The double blow emotionally breaks the couple. Amid the grief, Alba confirms her decision to move to Laguardia with Deba, seeking refuge from the endless pain her profession brings. Despite the shock, Unai promises to support her. They part with promises to stay connected, though both sense the emotional and physical distance growing between them. Each faces their own void: hers tied to interrupted motherhood, his to a death-laced investigation. The loss of two innocent lives drives Unai to press on with the case, while Alba prepares to end one chapter and begin another with her daughter.

Chapter 17 Summary – The Lords of Time – The Secret Garden and the Revelation of Concealment

After Nieves’s burial, Unai seeks help from his hacker MatuSalem to trace the source of the email that sent the novel. Initially reluctant, the young man is moved by the cruelty of the Nájera sisters’ case and agrees. Soon after, during a team meeting, several key details are confirmed: the theft of oil beetles from the museum, their match with the business cocktail, and autopsy evidence proving that the killer applied methods from the novel before it was released. Estíbaliz and Unai conclude the killer had early access to the manuscript. As they analyze clues, a new crime is reported: a child’s body has been found in the Zadorra River, inside a barrel with four animals. Unai immediately recognizes the scene as a medieval punishment for concealment—another highly specific and premeditated literary crime.

Chapter 18 Summary – The Lords of Time – The Count’s Trial and the Shadows of Power

Diago Vela recovers from his injuries after the ambush on Saint Agatha’s Day. Onneca confronts him about her father’s death, and Diago confirms her suspicions: he was poisoned with oil beetle. Nagorno joins the conversation and admits to protecting Ruiz de Maturana for political reasons. Diago insists that justice will be served according to Victoria’s law, without divine trials. As formal proceedings begin, Onneca expresses frustration at the lack of exemplary punishment. Tension rises when a clean cut on Diago’s back is discovered, evidence that the attacker used a sword. With help from Onneca and Alix, they tend to his wounds. Alix, ever observant, notes that Diago “smells like a woman,” hinting that she knows about his encounter with Onneca. Tension grows between the brothers as Diago fights to stay alive and defend his family’s honor.

Chapter 19 Summary – The Lords of Time – The Zadorra Unai

Unai arrives at the Zadorra River, where a child’s body inside a barrel has raised alarm. The atmosphere is grim: dead animals—dog, cat, rooster, and a dried viper—accompany the corpse. Recognizing the boy, Unai is horrified: it’s MatuSalem, his trusted hacker. The scene recreates a medieval punishment: encubamiento. At the funeral, skaters carry Matu’s graffiti-painted coffin, and everyone is overcome with grief, including his distraught girlfriend. Unai wonders whether Matu died because of him. After the burial, he meets Tasio Ortiz de Zárate, who has returned to Vitoria. They discuss MatuSalem and Unai’s daughter Deba. Secrets surface: Tasio reveals he was castrated in prison for crimes he didn’t commit. The confession shakes Unai, who demands that Tasio stay away from his daughter. The day ends under the weight of guilt.

Chapter 20 Summary – The Lords of Time – K, +D1

Following the funeral, Unai visits Dr. Guevara to review MatuSalem’s autopsy. There, he discovers an inscription carved by Matu himself on his arm using the rooster’s spur: “K, +D1.” The chilling message suggests Matu was conscious and resisted desperately. Unai interprets it as “Kraken, more than one,” implying Alvar is not acting alone, or that his identity is split. The medieval punishment of encubamiento reinforces ties to The Lords of Time. Forensic results confirm Matu was sober and deliberately wrote the message, trying to warn Unai. The inclusion of live animals in the barrel makes the murder particularly cruel. This clue revitalizes the investigation and leads Unai to consider more complex theories about the killer.

Chapter 21 Summary – The Lords of Time – The Judgment Square Diago Vela

In 1192, the Judgment Square in the town of Victoria fills with people to witness the fate of Ruiz, accused of murdering the Count of Maestu. The trial unfolds amid tension between nobles and artisans. Ruiz appears in poor condition, his tongue cut—proof of violence suffered in prison. The accusations against him are based on his purchase of oil beetles, a known poison. Diago Vela, still weakened by an unhealed wound, presents evidence of poisoning, supported by witness testimonies. Although some propose commuting the sentence to a fine, public outrage grows. Vela faints from blood loss and awakens under the care of Alix de Salcedo, who tends to him with affection and concern. Alix reveals Ruiz will be executed by encubamiento, according to a letter allegedly signed by Diago, which he denies writing. The execution heads to the Zadorra, and a weakened Diago decides to attend.

Chapter 22 Summary – The Lords of Time – Arkaute

Unai travels to the police academy in Arkaute to consult with Marina Leiva, his former mentor and an expert in criminal profiling. He describes Alvar, a narcissistic and seductive priest, and Ramiro Alvar, a shy intellectual. Though seemingly different people, Unai knows they are the same. Marina suggests that Ramiro suffers from dissociative identity disorder (DID), with Alvar as an “alter,” a secondary identity formed from trauma. She explains that patients with DID often experience amnesia, distrust, and internal conflict between personalities. Ramiro would be the apparent host personality, while Alvar acts as a defense mechanism. Marina warns that alters fight to survive and that only Ramiro can receive treatment. Unai realizes he is dealing with a fractured yet dangerous mind. The revelation redefines the investigation: he is not searching for two culprits but one with a divided psyche. Marina offers help—if she can speak to Ramiro, not Alvar.

Chapter 23 Summary – The Lords of Time – The Lady of the Castle

In Laguardia, Unai creates a symbolic moment by tying red thread bracelets around Alba’s and Deba’s wrists, uniting the family through the legend of Lur, the weaving goddess. Their peace is disrupted when Alba reads an article mentioning Unai and Tasio together at the cemetery. Fearing for her daughter, Alba confronts Unai, who assures her he asked Tasio to stay away from Deba. Tension escalates as Alba accuses Unai of attracting danger. Rather than responding angrily, Unai empathizes and reaffirms his commitment to them. He then reviews The Lords of Time and finds a clue: a character named Héctor Dicastillo uses a phrase he recognizes. He contacts his friend Héctor del Castillo, who confirms Alava ancestry. Unai suspects the novel and the crimes are connected to that family’s real history.

Chapter 24 Summary – The Lords of Time – Carnestolendas

During the 1192 Carnestolendas festivities, Diago Vela observes a town divided between nobles and artisans. Amid costumes and mockery, he senses a dangerous tension. He joins the celebration with Grandma Lucía, disguised, and analyzes symbols of social unrest, such as the Judas dressed as a fruit vendor and burned by the Mendozas. Alix gives him an eguzkilore, a symbol of protection. Diago climbs the Santa María bell tower and, with his grandmother, places the eguzkilore as spiritual protection. In the sacristy, he detects a foul smell and finds a hidden shutter—proof that something sinister is concealed. Lucía confirms his suspicions and gives him a red thread, symbolizing spiritual connection. Diago, moved, accepts the gesture as the festive mood turns ominous. Social hatred and internal division threaten to erupt into violence, and the presence of evil seems to lurk in every corner.

Chapter 25 Summary – The Lords of Time – The Lords of the Castle

Unai hosts brothers Héctor and Iago del Castillo at his home, where they present an ancient chronicle from the 12th century, written by their ancestor, Count Diago Vela. The manuscript reveals the original version of the events later fictionalized in The Lords of Time, leading Unai to realize the novel is almost a direct rewrite of the medieval text. Iago and Héctor explain that only they have access to the document, kept under strict security at the MAC museum. However, a second copy has been missing since 1524. They suspect someone with deep historical knowledge accessed that lost copy and rewrote the novel. Later, Unai meets Lutxo at a café, and they reflect on their friendship and the media fallout of the case. Finally, Alba calls Unai with news of a new finding related to the murder barrel.

Chapter 26 Summary – The Lords of Time – PAN

Unai visits Ramiro Alvar at his tower-home to confront him about The Lords of Time. Ramiro admits to writing the manuscript as a private, therapeutic exercise, denying any crimes. He explains his dissociative identity disorder and says his alter ego, Alvar, may be responsible for the murders. Ramiro rewrote the family chronicle as a way to confront and symbolically eliminate Alvar, believing he had succeeded—until meeting Unai made him realize Alvar still existed. He shares painful memories of his family, especially his father and brother, who also suffered from multiple personalities. Unai tries to persuade him to accept therapy with Dr. Leiva to help integrate his alter. But Alvar suddenly takes control and coldly dismisses Unai. Outside, Unai attends a local book club where the novel is being read, unaware of its dark link to the current murders.

Chapter 27 Summary – The Lords of Time – The Sacristy

Diago Vela and Gunnarr discover the walled-in bodies of the Count of Maestu’s sisters in the sacristy, confirming the horror. Onneca, devastated, enters and tearfully says goodbye to her sisters while the men watch in silence. Diago denies being the killer, though Onneca blames him, influenced by the priest’s claim. Nagorno pulls her away, preventing a worse tragedy. Later, Alix visits Diago at home, and the two find comfort together in a bath, trying to cleanse the horror and pain. In this vulnerable moment, they share a quiet intimacy and an unspoken promise not to give in to despair. Alix, aware of the risks, chooses to stand by Diago, and through silence and small gestures, a deep emotional bond forms that helps them endure the chaos consuming the town of Victoria.

Chapter 28 Summary – The Lords of Time – Valdegovía

During a restless night, Unai receives an urgent call from Peña about a viral tweet revealing the existence of the medieval chronicle, worth millions. Disturbed, Unai suspects he was overheard during a conversation with Alba in a bar. Peña invites him to a new bar in Pinto to unwind, but the night takes a dramatic turn when Unai gets an emergency message from Estíbaliz at the tower-home. Rushing to Valdegovía with Peña, they find Estíbaliz and Ramiro Alvar seriously injured after falling from a great height. Both lie unconscious and bleeding in the courtyard. The scene points to a violent attack, and Unai must coordinate medical help and preserve the crime scene. As he processes the events, he tries to understand how someone managed to enter, attack, and escape undetected. Estíbaliz’s life hangs in the balance, and the investigation reaches a critical point.

Chapter 29 Summary – The Lords of Time – The Garden of Samaniego

After the attack at the tower-home, Unai travels to Laguardia to inform Alba in person. He tells her Estíbaliz is in serious condition after falling from the Nograro tower along with Ramiro Alvar, who is also injured. They suspect an outside attacker, possibly seeking the chronicle. In a heartfelt conversation, Unai admits he knew about Estíbaliz’s relationship with Ramiro and that both hid the truth for personal and professional reasons. While Deba plays in the park, Unai spots Tasio Ortiz de Zárate speaking with her, sparking a chase. After a struggle, he realizes it’s not Tasio, but his twin brother Ignacio, who claims to live in Laguardia and means no harm. Unai lets him go, though wary. Finally, Peña calls with an update: Estíbaliz is still in surgery, but Ramiro Alvar is out of danger. Unai knows the case is far from over.

Chapter 30 Summary – The Lords of Time – The Oak of Judgment

Diago Vela awakens to screams after a night with Alix and learns that the priest has been found hanged from the Oak of Judgment. His death reveals that secrets can no longer be hidden. Diago orders urgent actions: ban wine, issue a decree, and guard the body. Soon after, fires break out at the market and Grandma Lucía’s house. Amid flames and chaos, Diago and Alix manage to rescue her, though she is gravely injured. Both suffer burns and are saved by Nagorno, alerted by his owl Munio. Alix cares for Diago, and he vows to rebuild the destroyed house. Days later, now recovered, Diago visits Alix’s forge and they formalize their love, promising to protect each other. Tragedy has bonded them, and amid fire and death, they find a reason to keep fighting and moving forward.

Chapter 31 Summary – The Lords of Time – The Pine Stretch Unai

Unai returns to the playground to find his family gone. Entering the castle, he finds Alba, who informs him that Deba and her grandfather are locked in Doña Blanca’s room. The threat from Tasio fades when Unai confirms the visitor was Ignacio, his twin, with no harmful intent. They decide to return to Vitoria to protect Deba and be with Estíbaliz at the hospital. During the drive through the pine-lined road, Unai recalls the loss of his first family on that same stretch, prompting him to reflect on his role as a protector. At the hospital, they reunite with Peña, Germán, and Milán, who confirm that Estíbaliz survived with fractures. Unai enters her room with Deba, and together they comfort Estíbaliz. Alba and Estíbaliz share an intimate moment where past mistakes and unresolved feelings come to light. The family comes together to care for her.

Chapter 32 Summary – The Lords of Time – Santiago Hospital Unai

With Estíbaliz out of danger, Unai agrees to interrogate her, despite the emotional toll. Alba approves, recognizing the investigation must go on. During questioning, Estíbaliz denies that Ramiro Alvar poses a threat, despite the incident. Unai explains that he and a psychiatrist suspect Alvar suffers from dissociative identity disorder and that the Alvar she knew is an alter. Estíbaliz rejects the theory without proof. In a tense exchange, Unai suggests she may suffer from hybristophilia. Furious, Estíbaliz lashes out, prompting Alba to interrupt and stop the argument. Later, Estíbaliz insists on seeing Alvar. When she confronts him, she finds a timid, different man. She is overwhelmed by his altered voice and behavior. Ramiro Alvar claims Estíbaliz is the one who activates his alter, but now Alvar no longer appears. The emotional shock brings new doubts.

Chapter 33 Summary – The Lords of Time – Yennego

Diago Vela recalls seven happy years with his wife Alix and their son Yennego, who, despite his limp, lives joyfully and bravely. That morning, Nagorno gifts the boy a colt, thrilling the family. Onneca, distant and haunted by infertility, watches from the shadows. Tensions rise with the arrival of Martín Chipia, the new town lieutenant sent by King Sancho the Strong, who warns of a potential attack by Alfonso VIII. The news unsettles the townspeople, already wary of rumors about alliances with the Moors. That night, Diago and Alix leave Yennego at the market. Upon returning, he’s gone. His broken red cord left on an ancient stone is the only clue. Diago realizes in horror that this wasn’t a childish prank—it wasn’t the devil who took him, but a real monster.

Chapter 34 Summary – The Lords of Time – Locard’s Principle Unai

Swimming at the pool, Unai rethinks the theft of the chronicle and concludes it was committed by the same person behind the murders. He suspects financial motives, reframing the investigation. He speaks with Dr. Leiva, who advises him to study Ramiro Alvar’s environment to uncover the trauma that fractured his psyche. She suggests Ramiro mentally erased painful years and might have altered memories of his brother. Leiva reminds him that in DID cases, the alter can survive by disguising itself as the host. Unai wonders if he’s truly speaking to Ramiro—or Alvar pretending. He then learns Ramiro has begun corresponding with Estíbaliz, claiming Alvar vanished after the fall and confessing she was his only love. Lacking progress without her, Unai visits Ugarte, where Benita gives him clues about long-buried family secrets.

Chapter 35 Summary – The Lords of Time – Quejana

Unai and Milán head to Quejana after a break-in at the convent. There, they find elderly priest Lázaro Durana injured, claiming he was pushed while confronting the intruder. Despite the dark, he recalls a large male figure and the smell of sweat. Suspecting the intruder was after something specific, Unai and Milán inspect the Chapel of the Sepulchre and discover the tomb of Chancellor Pero López de Ayala and his wife has been disturbed. Inside are bones that don’t belong to just two people—there’s a third body hidden among the femurs. The scene suggests someone deliberately hid or sought something. As the priest is taken to the hospital, Unai reflects on the secret that tomb may hold. The connection to the current murders feels closer than ever.

Chapter 36 Summary – The Lords of Time – The Dark Gate Diago Vela

After Yennego’s disappearance, Diago joins the townspeople in searching for him, while rumors of invasion spread. Nagorno, desperate, threatens the Isunza family at the Dark Gate, suspecting them of harming his nephew. Diago stops him and proposes a search party with Lieutenant Chipia’s men. Things change when a messenger announces attacks at nearby fortresses. Alfonso VIII’s army is approaching, and Chipia closes the town gates to prepare defenses. Diago begs to search for his son, but Chipia forbids it, calling any escape an act of treason. Alix returns in panic after spotting the enemy army, confirming the worst: they are trapped inside the town, unable to search for Yennego. Anguish sets in, overshadowed by the looming war.

Chapter 37 Summary – The Lords of Time – The Old Classroom Unai

Unai visits Dr. Leiva at the Arkaute Academy after receiving a disturbing letter from Estíbaliz. Together, they analyze two handwritten letters—one from Ramiro Alvar and one from Alvar de Nograro. Leiva concludes they were not written by the same person, reflecting two distinct psyches: Ramiro, introverted and sensitive; Alvar, hedonistic and narcissistic. This suggests Alvar may still be alive. Their conversation raises questions about the authenticity of Alvar’s grave and the trauma that split Ramiro. Later, Unai contacts Milán, who confirms the bones found in Quejana belonged to three people, one contemporary. Also, a pencil found at MatuSalem’s crime scene had blood traces. This discovery rekindles Unai’s hope—both in the case and in life.

Chapter 38 Summary – The Lords of Time – Outside the Walls Diago Vela

As the Castilian army nears, Diago Vela and Chipia organize the town’s defense. Though desperate to find his son Yennego, Diago prepares for the coming siege. Lyra brings him his armor, and as villagers flock into the fortress, Diago helps Grandma Lucía reach the church for safety. Tension spikes when King Alfonso VIII arrives offering surrender. Chipia rejects it in King Sancho’s name, hoping for Navarrese reinforcements. Though courteous, Alfonso’s men start cutting trees to build siege machines. The town braces for attack. As Diago and Alix share a brief moment of reconnection, a thunderous noise shakes the North Gate—the assault has begun, and danger is now within the walls.

Chapter 39 Summary – The Lords of Time – The Old Graveyard Unai

Unai takes Ramiro Alvar to the family cemetery, hoping to trigger suppressed memories. Before Alvar’s grave, Ramiro breaks down emotionally. He confesses his brother died after a traumatic rift between them following their parents’ death. Unai urges him to face the past to clarify the current crimes and demands to know the truth about Alvar. The grave is damaged, and no one attended the funeral, deepening Unai’s doubts. Ramiro admits he once adored his brother, but something changed after Alvar returned from seminary. Caught between guilt, confusion, and fear, Ramiro begins to unlock memories. As Unai presses for answers, the truth begins to emerge: it all started with love. The deepest wound is about to be exposed.

Chapter 40 Summary – The Lords of Time – The Watch Path Diago Vela

The battle for Victoria erupts as arrows rain down and a battering ram hits the North Gate. Diago Vela and his men bravely defend the town, while Lyra and her smiths pour scalding sand on enemy troops. Castilian ladders are beaten back with stones hurled by townsfolk. Wounded but fervent, Gunnarr fights with unyielding determination. Finally, an unexpected retreat order from King Alfonso momentarily spares the town. The people celebrate in the church, but Diago and his allies don’t rest. They continue searching for Yennego, still missing. Before dawn, Diago and Alix see a strange glow in the sky—something unknown is coming. Alix, terrified, asks if he’s seen it before. Diago confirms her worst fears. They rush to alert Chipia, knowing the next attack could destroy them all.

Chapter 41 Summary – The Lords of Time – The Oven Alvar

In 1994, Alvar plans to secretly marry Gemma, his great love, who is also pregnant with his child. But at the abandoned oven where they arranged to meet, his mother Inés appears with devastating news: she bribed Gemma to leave, abort, and disappear from their lives. Alvar is incredulous until Inés reveals the reason for her opposition—Gemma is his half-sister. Their father, Lorenzo, had an affair that resulted in a hidden pregnancy decades earlier. Alvar is shattered, discovering his relationship is incestuous. With his world destroyed, he renounces everything, including the inheritance of the tower, and enters the seminary the next day. Ramiro, then a teenager secretly in love with Gemma, witnesses the scene unseen. That day marks the birth of dissociation: Alvar dies symbolically, giving rise to the cold religious figure Ramiro would come to know. The family begins to fall apart from within.

Chapter 42 Summary – The Lords of Time – Reinforcements Diago Vela

Diago Vela devises a desperate plan to stop the three siege towers threatening the town. He instructs the cloth makers to produce large sheets soaked in pig fat and the blacksmiths to make reinforced arrows. Alongside his brother Nagorno, they shoot the cloths at the enemy towers and set them on fire. The first burns completely, the second is partially destroyed, and the third is brought down in flames after a risky joint attack. Though the assault is stopped, the human cost is high. Homes burn, bodies lie in rubble, and chaos grips the streets. Neighbors search desperately for loved ones amid the ruins. Exhausted and injured, Diago wanders through the town calling for his son. Pain consumes him as he cries out with no answer. Surrounded by smoke, fire, and death, he can only think of finding Yennego. The enemy retreats, but the battle for his son is far from over.

Chapter 43 Summary – The Lords of Time – A Broken Tombstone Unai

Ramiro Alvar painfully reveals to Unai the truth about his childhood, marked by illness and his brother’s death. Alvar suffered from thalassemia, a hereditary disorder that could have been alleviated by a bone marrow donation from Ramiro, who was compatible. However, their mother, who despised Alvar, never informed him—leading to an irreparable rift. Ramiro carries the guilt and Alvar’s rejection, whose personality turned violent and dependent on painkillers. In a heartfelt conversation at the tomb, Unai explains that Alvar is not his brother but a part of himself he must accept instead of destroy. Tearfully, Ramiro begins to understand that he can reconcile with this side of himself. By recognizing that the goodness he admired in his brother also lives in him, he starts to rebuild and view the world with new eyes, free from his family's past.

Chapter 44 Summary – The Lords of Time – The Chapel of Santa María Diago Vela

In the summer of 1199, the city of Victoria is engulfed in death and desolation. Disease and violence leave dozens dead and orphaned. Pregnant Alix shows great strength by choosing to care for the baby of a deceased woman. Meanwhile, Diago seeks refuge in the church and is met by Nagorno, who shockingly asks him to sleep with his wife Onneca to produce an heir. Nagorno reveals his sterility, which under Castilian law jeopardizes his lineage and possessions. Diago, loyal to his family and love for Alix, firmly refuses, defending his household's unity. Nagorno argues that the king won't relent and surrender is inevitable, but Diago remains steadfast. The chapter reflects desperation, the conflict between duty and morality, and the struggle to preserve dignity amid adversity.

Chapter 45 Summary – The Lords of Time – A Broken Pencil Unai

Alba proposes a new investigative tactic: using the press to emotionally influence the killer. Touching photos of the Nájera sisters and their families are published to provoke guilt. The strategy includes constant updates on the victims to pressure the culprit into reacting. Meanwhile, Unai joins Ugarte’s book club, closely observing neighbors and their interactions. There, he meets Irati, Claudia’s sister, and visits her workshop at the old Nograro forge. During his visit, he receives a shocking call: the DNA on the pencil found at the Maturana crime scene matches Ramiro Alvar. This revelation shakes everything they believed about him. Unai contemplates the horrifying possibility that Ramiro is guilty, wondering if he was manipulated by a brilliant psychopath or if the identity disorder was genuine.

Chapter 46 Summary – The Lords of Time – Parliament Diago Vela

In the summer of 1199, King Alfonso offers another chance to surrender, claiming other fortresses have fallen. Chipia, loyal to King Sancho, refuses, arguing reinforcements may still arrive. Onneca, supported by Nova Victoria’s nobles, suggests surrendering to avoid a massacre and protect the townspeople. Tensions between the two towns escalate, but Chipia ultimately decides to resist. The Castilian army encircles the city, initiating a full siege—setting up tents and occupying homes in the suburbs. The population watches helplessly as enemies settle in, signaling a long siege ahead. Nagorno fears the worst, likening the situation to Numancia. Diago faces the harsh reality of a war of attrition. The choice not to surrender seals Victoria’s fate, launching a brutal siege that will test everyone’s strength.

Chapter 47 Summary – The Lords of Time – Chameleon Unai

Unai arrives at the hospital to arrest Ramiro Alvar, only to find he has fled, leaving his bed made and a book open—a message. Fearing for Estíbaliz, he rushes to her room and finds her preparing for discharge. Though shaken by Ramiro’s betrayal, she insists she didn’t warn him. Unai believes her, and they vow to support each other. Later, Unai gives a lecture at Arkaute about integrated psychopaths, detailing how they wear a social mask to hide their true nature. He explains their manipulative ways and emotional deceit, moving the class deeply. The lesson strikes a personal chord—Unai is coming to terms with having been deceived. The chapter highlights the challenge of recognizing a predator behind a charming façade.

Chapter 48 Summary – The Lords of Time – Almohad Lands Diago Vela

In the winter of 1200, the siege on Victoria intensifies. The town endures hunger, isolation, and no aid. The birth of Alix and Diago’s daughter offers a flicker of hope amid despair. Bishop García enters with permission and proposes a truce to travel south and consult King Sancho. Onneca and Alix volunteer to accompany him. After a grueling journey to Almohad lands, the king replies by letter: no reinforcements will come. Though he vows to reclaim the town one day, he releases its people from their oath of defense. Saddened but obedient, Alix and Onneca begin the return journey with the letter of dispensation. On the way back, a storm forces them to seek shelter at the Romana inn. The narrative foreshadows that something painful and significant is about to happen, ending on an ominous note.

Chapter 49 Summary – The Lords of Time – El Campillo Unai

Unai reflects on fond memories of his grandparents, contemplating aging, legacy, and the dignity of work. Meanwhile, he and Iago del Castillo examine old documents in the Álava Historical Archives to understand the Nograro family's entailed inheritance. They discover a clause requiring heirs to have no criminal record, a rule preserving the lineage. But the day takes a dark turn when Unai and Iago arrive at Etxanobe’s garden to find the grandfather gravely wounded after an attack. Deba is missing. Paralyzed, Unai relives childhood memories with his grandfather. Iago calls emergency services and triggers a search operation. Devastated, Unai is torn between helping his grandfather and finding his daughter—leaving him completely shattered.

Chapter 50 Summary – The Lords of Time – The Storm Diago Vela

Alix, Onneca, and Bishop García are forced to take shelter at the Romana inn during a storm. Alix bakes pastries while Onneca tends to her mare. There, she discovers royal seals of the late Sancho the Wise and King Sancho the Strong in García’s saddlebags, raising her suspicions. She climbs to confront him and overhears a secret conversation between García and his son Lope, confessing to past crimes, including the poisoning of Count Maestu. Enraged, Onneca bursts in, and García, cornered, decides to kill her with a fire poker. Though she tries to defend herself, she ends up on the floor. Alix intervenes, hurling herself at the bishop to save her. Onneca loses consciousness, unsure if she’ll survive or if Alix managed to stop her cousin’s murderous rage. The inn, meant to be a refuge, becomes the scene of a devastating betrayal.

Chapter 51 Summary – The Lords of Time – The Butchers’ Alley Unai

Unai recovers from the shock as he sees Alba take charge of the operation to find Deba, who disappeared after the attack on her grandfather. Germán is notified and rushes to the hospital, while Alba seals off the Medieval Almond, setting up checkpoints at all exits. Milán finds Deba’s bracelet in the Butchers’ Alley, confirming the kidnapping. Iago, still present, offers help and stays with the grandfather. Unai clings to hope, aware that time is against him. He asks about the fate of Diago Vela’s lost son, but Iago confirms he was never found. The weight of history and desperation intertwine as Unai presses on, sticking to police protocol amidst a Halloween-disguised city shrouded in anxious uncertainty. Deba’s disappearance becomes a countdown for the family’s heart.

Chapter 52 Summary – The Lords of Time – The Crossing Unai

The search for Deba intensifies, but leads remain scarce. Unai and Alba receive an alert about a possible sighting at the train station. Unai rushes there, unarmed and without a vest, driven only by fear and the need to recover his daughter. In the underpass, he finds Tasio Ortiz de Zárate with Deba asleep in a stroller, disguised as a boy. Tasio claims she is his niece, that she shares his DNA, and Unai has no rights over her. Unai responds that he knew this from the beginning, and that fatherhood is about love, not biology. As he speaks, Alba approaches from behind and apprehends Tasio. Deba, still sedated, is taken away in an ambulance with both parents beside her. On the way, Unai confesses to Alba that he always knew she wasn’t biologically his, but it never mattered. Their love-based family reaffirms itself—stronger than blood.

Chapter 53 Summary – The Lords of Time – Faithful Munio Diago Vela

Onneca wakes injured and shivering after surviving García’s attack, thanks to Alix’s intervention. They take refuge in the old mill by the Mill Stream. But they urgently need to deliver King Sancho the Strong’s message to allow the town’s surrender. Alix decides to go alone, trusting in the full moon and her faithful owl, Munio. She ties a message to his leg and releases him, hoping he’ll find Diago. Meanwhile, alerted by Munio’s arrival, Gunnarr, Nagorno, and Diago prepare to scale the wall and rescue their wives. Despite the siege, instinct and loyalty unite the characters, reflecting emotional resilience as strong as the city’s walls. Hope is reborn in the darkness thanks to an old, loyal bird and the determination of those who still believe in reunion.

Chapter 54 Summary – The Lords of Time – The Apple Grave Unai

As his grandfather lies dying in the hospital, Unai performs an emotional ritual—rubbing apples on his skin and recounting family memories. Later, in Villaverde, he comforts Deba, devastated by having her head shaved. Germán and Unai ring the bells for All Souls’ Day and recall a secret tradition: an ancestral drawing etched in the bell tower that protects the family. During the conversation, Unai asks about Beltrán Pérez de Apodaca, the young Ugarte lawyer, and Germán expresses doubts about his ethics. In the orchard, Unai buries the apples and notices Deba’s drawings: a chimera—an unsettlingly familiar creature. Estíbaliz arrives with a list from the Quejana town hall, highlighting one name: Claudia Mújica. Suspicions rise. Their conversation leads to a shocking revelation: Gonzalo, the young man from the bar, is Alvar’s son, and Ramiro donated him bone marrow. This emotional twist pushes Unai to rush to Dr. Guevara, convinced he’s understood something crucial: the chimera.

Chapter 55 Summary – The Lords of Time – The Circle Unai

Unai works tirelessly to close the case, analyzing MatuSalem’s funeral photos until he spots a key face. A conversation with Dr. Guevara and a call to Iago del Castillo reveal critical details about the entail document, which excludes illegitimate children—except for the oldest bastard if no firstborn exists. This shifts Unai’s view of the Nograro inheritance. The discussion highlights a disturbing detail: in the novel, Bishop García dies, unlike in the historical record. This discrepancy alarms Unai, since the character mirrors Alvar. Estíbaliz shows up with a crucial lead on Ramiro Alvar’s whereabouts. Unai devises a plan and contacts Gonzalo, warning him of the danger and preparing him as bait. He suspects Gonzalo is Alvar’s next target, and sets up an operation to catch him first.

Chapter 56 Summary – The Lords of Time – Sea of Bottles Unai

Gonzalo contacts Unai after receiving a desperate call from Ramiro Alvar. Though nervous, he agrees to cooperate and reveals Ramiro is hiding at La Ferrería. Accompanied by Beltrán, he goes to calm him. Meanwhile, Unai coordinates a discreet operation with Milán and Peña. At the scene, Unai infiltrates the guesthouse with Irati’s help and finds Ramiro, shaken by Gonzalo’s betrayal. In the tense moment, Gonzalo accuses him of abandonment, and Ramiro confesses he feared repeating his father’s violence. Then Unai gives the order: Gonzalo is arrested for MatuSalem’s murder, Beltrán for killing Lasaga, and Irati and Sebas for the Nájera sisters’ deaths. The truth shatters like glass in the workshop, as each character’s true face emerges. At last, the net closes on all the guilty parties.

Chapter 57 Summary – The Lords of Time – Under the Wall Diago Vela

After a sleepless night, Diago tends to Alix, whose health is failing from García’s poison. She confesses she tried to protect Onneca, who was beaten after uncovering García’s crimes. The poison has scorched Alix’s throat, and she has only an hour left. Diago rushes to bring Grandma Lucía for a final goodbye. Alix dies peacefully, holding her son and surrounded by love. Diago buries her beside Yennego’s grave, under the wall of Saint Michel’s church, sprinkling lavender seeds she used to leave each night. He then confronts Onneca and Nagorno, who reveal the royal surrender document is still at the Romana inn. Diago fears it may be a fake, like García’s seals, and that surrendering could bring even greater disaster to the town.

Chapter 58 Summary – The Lords of Time – The Glassworks Unai

Unai reveals that the trap for Ramiro Alvar was actually set to expose Gonzalo, Irati, Sebas, and Beltrán. Ramiro had staged his escape, leaving deliberate clues. The blood at MatuSalem’s crime scene matched Ramiro’s genetically—but Unai discovers Gonzalo is a human chimera: his blood carries his uncle’s DNA due to a marrow transplant. Irati, Sebas, and Beltrán were manipulated by Gonzalo, who led them to believe they were Alvar’s illegitimate children and heirs. Their resentment and greed bound them. They recreated murders from the novel to frame Ramiro and claim the family fortune. The revelation shocks Ramiro, realizing his “nephews” acted out of bitterness and ambition. All are arrested. Unai, relieved yet bitter, returns home, hangs a black cross in his window, and dedicates the victory to MatuSalem, who left the vital clues.

Chapter 59 Summary – The Lords of Time – In the Rain Ramiro Alvar

In April 2017, Ramiro Alvar walks in the rain to the Nograro cemetery church and finds a young man crying at a grave. It’s Gonzalo Martínez, son of Gemma—the woman Ramiro paid to abort years earlier. Gonzalo reveals he’s lived without family, that his mother vanished, and he believes he’s Alvar Nograro’s son. At first, Ramiro is skeptical, but emotions overwhelm him. Gonzalo says he wants no money—just to know his origins. Ramiro watches him leave for La Ferrería, struck by his resemblance to Gemma. The next morning, Ramiro wakes confused, wearing Alvar’s cassock and without his glasses. He senses Gonzalo’s presence has reactivated his disorder—Alvar’s shadow is again taking over. This encounter reopens buried wounds and reignites the fear of his family demons resurfacing.

Chapter 60 Summary – The Lords of Time – The Room Unai

Unai interrogates Irati, who agrees to confess. She recounts how she, Beltrán, and Sebas grew up stigmatized as Alvar Nograro’s bastards. Encouraged by village rumors and spurred on by Beltrán, they pursued DNA proof to claim the inheritance. When they learned they weren’t Ramiro’s children, their disappointment turned to revenge. Then Gonzalo, a real Nograro, appeared with the manuscript. They decided to frame Ramiro and disinherit him, knowing a conviction would strip his title. They split the novel-inspired murders: Beltrán poisoned Lasaga, Irati and Sebas walled in the Nájera sisters, and Gonzalo killed MatuSalem after he discovered the message’s origin. Irati vividly details how they tricked the girls, accessed the unfinished apartment, and staged the crime. Unrepentant, she offers only justifications. Unai clearly sees how Gonzalo used them all to exact his revenge.

Chapter 61 Summary – The Lords of Time – Altai Diago Vela

Hunger and despair reign over Nova Victoria. Seventeen days after Alix and Onneca’s return, the town feels like a graveyard—no animals, no sound, only echoes of suffering. Diago, consumed by grief over Alix, finds Grandma Lucía dead, sitting beside a chest of food she secretly saved for her family. Her final act of love brings neighbors together for an improvised feast among the tombs. Soon after, Gunnarr warns Diago: Nagorno has lost control upon learning the villagers ate Altai, his horse. Diago calms him and convinces him to organize Lucía’s burial. That night, the remaining food is shared in her honor. Diago proposes surrender, and for the first time, all townspeople—from both sides—agree to unite. Lucía’s death achieves what neither war nor starvation could: Victoria’s unity.

Chapter 62 Summary – The Lords of Time – The Chancellor’s Tomb Unai

Unai learns that the bones found in Quejana belong to Gemma Martínez, Gonzalo’s mother, and that the other two bodies buried with the Chancellor are their direct ancestors. The revelation shakes him, but he has no time to process it—his grandfather has awakened. Rushing to the hospital, he finds him alert and playing with Deba. Overcome with emotion, Unai decides to close a chapter: he leaves his inspector badge on his grandfather’s bed, symbolically handing it to his family. Alba, Germán, and Deba embrace him. For the first time, Unai puts his loved ones before duty. His resignation marks not an end, but a beginning. His family is now his only destination. His grandfather, beaming, says: “It was about time.”

Chapter 63 Summary – The Lords of Time – Kraken Unai

Unai bids farewell to his identity as Kraken by cutting his hair, exposing his scar. He accepts his wounds as part of his story and lets go of his obsession with saving everyone. He meets with Lutxo and reveals his resignation—he will now train new profilers. Before closing his final case, he receives an unexpected call from Ignacio Ortiz de Zárate, Tasio’s twin. Ignacio says he’s leaving the country and promises not to interfere in Deba’s life, his biological niece. Later, Unai visits Quejana and finds the hidden copy of Don Vela’s original chronicle, behind Chancellor Ayala’s altarpiece. He also confirms that Gonzalo murdered his mother, Gemma, and used Quejana to hide her body. This final proof completes the investigation. Everything fits. His last case closes with no loose ends.

Chapter 64 Summary – The Lords of Time – Ramiro Unai

Now a professor, Unai shares the lessons and mistakes from the case with his students. He explains how Gonzalo manipulated his accomplices to frame Ramiro Alvar and strip him of his inheritance through legal and narrative cunning. At the end of class, Estíbaliz arrives with Dr. Marina Leiva and Ramiro in a wheelchair. Ramiro has agreed to start therapy for his dissociative disorder, partly to keep seeing Estíbaliz. Unai asks to speak privately with him to confirm a final theory: Bishop García, a key figure in the novel, was actually Ramiro’s ancestor, and the crime Alvar commits in fiction is a symbolic way to kill his alter ego. Ramiro confirms it, revealing he descends from a bastard son of the bishop and a prostitute—a shameful secret for the Nograros. Unai also informs him the chronicle has been recovered, but Ramiro declines it. He just wants to close that chapter forever.

Chapter 65 Summary – The Lords of Time – One Town Diago Vela

The people of Victoria, defeated by hunger, agree to surrender. Diago, along with Chipia and other leaders, meets with King Alfonso to hand over the town, but he demands conditions: no reprisals, no looting, and no harm to women or children. The king agrees respectfully. Castilian soldiers enter peacefully and distribute food. Life slowly returns: some townsfolk leave, others rebuild. Lyra returns to work in the quarry, Gunnarr heads to the sea, and Chipia departs for Mendigorría. Diago, scarred by Alix’s death and so many losses, realizes he now fights for people, not land. He takes his daughter to visit Alix and Yennego’s graves, telling her their story. In February of 1200, the tale of Victoria ends with one last hopeful phrase. The war is over, and with it, an era.

Chapter 66 Summary – The Lords of Time – The Lords of Time Unai

In December 2019, the city wakes up covered in snow. Unai welcomes Iago and Héctor del Castillo to his home. They return the recovered chronicle and share a never-before-seen letter: Onneca confessed that Yennego died accidentally by falling into the moat. This secret had been kept for centuries. Later, they walk through the Medieval Almond, showing Unai he is a descendant of both the Vela and Ayala families. DNA evidence proves his lineage, and they guide him through historical corners, tying his bloodline to the city’s origins. They then visit his grandfather and Deba, playing in the park. Iago shows them the family symbol—the eguzkilore—and they draw it as an act of ancestral protection. Finally, in Villa Suso Palace, before Alix de Salcedo’s body, Unai understands his place in history. Kneeling, he bids farewell to the past: “Here ends my hunt, mother. Here begins my life, daughter.”

Conclusion – The Lords of Time

The Lords of Time is more than the end of a trilogy—it’s a literary statement where each murder is a metaphor, and every character an echo of what we were and fear to become. The White City becomes a maze of mirrors: between Kraken and the killer, the knight and the chronicler, the medieval fiction and the fractured present. Everything converges in a finale that doesn’t just end—it reverberates.

Eva García Sáenz de Urturi delivers one of the most ambitious achievements in contemporary Spanish thrillers, elevating the concept of saga to near-mythical status. And although this chapter closes, literature never rests. There are other white cities, other crimes, other memories waiting to be told.

Ready to discover new trilogies and equally addictive sagas? Then head to: Other Series on the Blog ➤

FAQs – Chapter by Chapter Summary – The Lords of Time

What does Ramiro Alvar symbolize in The Lords of Time?

Ramiro Alvar embodies the struggle between identity and legacy. As a man split between two personalities, he carries the burden of inherited trauma and the inability to outrun his family's dark past. His dissociative identity isn’t just a narrative device—it’s a mirror of Vitoria itself, torn between its medieval roots and modern crimes. Ramiro is not merely the author of a book; he’s a living metaphor for how stories can both preserve and poison reality, becoming agents of control and destruction.

Why are the murders in the novel so medieval and specific?

The murders mirror punishments from the 12th-century chronicle behind The Lords of Time, revealing that the killer acts with purpose and historical precision. Methods like walling victims or enclosing them in barrels aren’t random—they’re narrative tools brought to life. The killer clearly accessed the manuscript before its release, proving this is no casual reader but someone using fiction as blueprint. These elaborate methods blur the line between story and reality, transforming murder into a deadly reenactment.

What narrative purpose does Diago Vela’s story serve?

Diago’s 12th-century arc is not just a backdrop—it’s the skeleton key to the entire plot. His story doesn’t merely parallel the present; it haunts it. Themes of betrayal, power, justice, and fractured identity ripple from his timeline into Unai’s. The mirroring between Diago and Unai underscores a chilling truth: the nature of evil doesn’t evolve, it reincarnates. The past isn’t gone—it’s repeating itself through blood, words, and legacy.

How does dissociative identity disorder shape the novel’s plot?

DID is the psychological engine driving the novel’s central mystery. Once Unai realizes Ramiro suffers from it, the case shifts from external hunt to internal reckoning. The disorder raises powerful questions about guilt, agency, and memory. It also introduces profound emotional complexity: how can justice be served when the killer and the victim reside in the same body? Rather than simplify the case, DID makes it hauntingly ambiguous—and more human.

How does Vitoria function as a setting in the novel?

Vitoria is more than just scenery—it’s a living, breathing presence. Its split identity between medieval and modern reflects the fractured psyches of its characters. Rooftops, towers, alleys, and hidden tunnels serve not only as physical passageways but as emotional thresholds. The city is a palimpsest of secrets, echoing both Diago’s time and Unai’s investigations. In The Lords of Time, Vitoria isn’t just a place. It’s a memory made architecture, a character built from stone and shadow.