Violet notes that Zehyllna has low-level ambient magic that trickles through her bonds with Tairn and Andarna. The squad dismounts before a large, unarmed crowd dressed in colorful clothes, with the front row in apricot tunics. Dragons and gryphons reconnect with their riders, and Xaden admits Sgaeyl has been furious with him, but he prefers her anger to silence. Xaden asks Violet to promise she will not put herself between him and others again, fearing what he could do without restraint; Violet refuses to concede, insisting she will act to protect friends if needed.

Calixta, wearing an orange tunic and carrying a speaking cone, greets them as mistress of festivities and switches easily between Zehylish and the common language. Aaric translates fluently, while Dain struggles. Calixta recognizes their intent to secure an alliance and asks to see the irid; Violet introduces Andarna and explains their broader mission to find Andarna’s kind and allies against dark magic wielders. Calixta states the queen is eager to help but first requires them to accept gifts chosen by Zihnal via a public game; refusal or complaint would mean no alliance.

The group agrees, aware the game tests their reactions to fortune and disappointment. Calixta spreads a large arc of face-down, orange-backed cards, each representing a gift, and calls them forward one by one. Mira draws wine; Maren gets two tunics; Dain’s “hand” leads to a woman slapping him hard across the face, which he endures politely. Garrick receives a rusted steel bucket, and Aaric gets a fractured hand mirror that cuts him. Xaden is given an empty glass display box. Violet draws a compass from a mocking man; it is broken and does not point north, which she accepts calmly.

Ridoc draws “lips” and is kissed on both cheeks by a lanky blond man. Cat receives an ornate gold necklace with a large ruby. Drake draws “the claw,” which appears threatening until a burly man presents a mewling orange tabby kitten; Drake accepts it. Throughout, Violet battles dizziness and fatigue while Xaden quietly supports her.

When Trager draws “the arrow,” the crowd falls silent. He reels backward, looks toward Cat, then collapses to his knees with an arrow protruding from his heart, dead before Violet and Ridoc can catch him. The scene ends in horror, underscoring Zehyllna’s uncompromising devotion to luck as both boon and deadly peril.