The trial by combat begins with three simultaneous matches: Violet against Marlis, Xaden against Costa, and Dain against Palta. Violet and Xaden negotiate daggers as the shared weapon, a choice that favors Violet's fighting style while still suiting both men. Violet instructs Xaden not to watch her fight, warning him he cannot afford the distraction, and the commander orders the matches to begin.

Violet engages Marlis, a larger and stronger opponent. Violet throws her first dagger as a feint, then rushes in to slice Marlis along her ribs. Marlis retaliates with a powerful stab that cracks one of Violet's ribs, but the blow is deflected by Violet's dragon-scale armor, preventing a fatal wound. Marlis offers to remove her own armor if Violet does the same, but Violet refuses, knowing she needs every advantage. After more exchanges that leave Violet with a cut forearm, Violet uses a close-quarters grappling technique—locking Marlis's leg and driving her off-balance—to take Marlis to the ground and pin her arms with her thighs, pressing a dagger to Marlis's neck.

However, the situation is dire elsewhere: Andarna warns that Dain is already unconscious with Palta's boot on his neck, and Costa has Xaden pinned, his dagger slowly descending toward Xaden's face. Marlis taunts Violet with the impossible choice between holding her pin or saving Xaden. Violet chooses both—she flips her dagger and throws it into Costa's shoulder, giving Xaden the opening to disarm Costa, then immediately draws another blade and returns it to Marlis's throat.

As Violet's rage peaks, lightning strikes the plaza on both sides, cracking the ancient terraced stone seating and charring the rock. Marlis yields, and the commander confirms the result. Xaden knocks Costa unconscious, and Dain is found alive though injured. Violet questions whether the lightning came from her own power despite the absence of magic in this place, but dismisses it as coincidence or possibly divine intervention from Dunne.

The revelation follows that Marlis is actually the Queen of Unnbriel. Violet presents her two requests: information about the seventh breed of dragon, and an alliance against the war threatening the Continent. Marlis says the isle hasn't seen dragons in centuries and cannot help with the seventh breed, disappointing Andarna deeply. As for an alliance, Marlis offers a limited "Deverelli approach"—shelter, jungle access, and hunting rights—but refuses to commit troops to fight. When Violet presses for the price of full alliance, Marlis names it: dragons. She departs, leaving Violet and her companions with partial success but no military commitment.