Violet and the squad arrive in Zehyllna's capital, Xortrys, where Violet notices the isle possesses faint traces of magic—enough to trickle power through her bonds with Tairn and Andarna, but not enough to channel or wield. The squad dismounts and the riders and fliers reunite with their bonded gryphons for the first time in weeks, savoring the reconnection. Xaden tells Violet that Sgaeyl is furious with him but that he prefers her anger to the silence of their separation. He then asks Violet to promise never again to put herself between him and someone he might hurt, as she did with Ridoc. Violet refuses, insisting she'll decide when he's too dangerous to approach and reminding him that he's never actually harmed her, even at his worst.

A woman named Calixta, the mistress of festivities, greets the squad in the common language and explains that Zehyllna's queen is eager to help them. However, before they may enter the city and meet the queen, they must participate in a ritual game: each squad member draws a card from a spread, and Zihnal—the god of luck—determines what gift they receive. The condition is absolute: no one may complain about the gift they receive, or the alliance will be denied. Violet consults her squad, and everyone agrees to play.

The gifts range from generous to humiliating to useless. Mira receives wine, Maren gets two tunics, Dain is slapped across the face by a woman, Garrick gets a rusted bucket, Aaric receives a broken mirror that cuts his thumb, and Xaden is given an empty glass box. Violet draws a broken compass from a mocking man, and Ridoc receives kisses on both cheeks. Cat is given a gold necklace with a ruby. Drake draws "the claw" and receives a kitten. Throughout, Violet battles waves of dizziness and fatigue.

Trager, the last to draw, pulls a card depicting an arrow. The crowd falls silent. As Trager turns toward the squad, an arrow strikes him through the heart. He falls to his knees and dies before Violet and Ridoc can reach him. The chapter ends with a devastating quote from Violet's father's book: "Sometimes the best gift the god of luck can give is his absence."