After returning to Basgiath, Violet immerses herself in research on Deverelli and venin, reading multiple grim tomes and re-examining her father Asher Sorrengail’s manuscript. Jack Barlowe remains uncooperative, sharing only trivial details about venin asim progression and channeling, refusing to name his Sage or how Theophanie anticipated the citrine heist. Violet develops a troubling hypothesis from her father’s work but keeps it to herself. Meanwhile, she trains, modifies her saddle, and pushes her wielding to exhaustion.

On the way to the Senarium briefing, Ridoc insists on accompanying Violet out of fear that separations have led to past disasters. He reveals progress with his signet by freezing an orange solid, implying he might be able to freeze water in living bodies, a power that unsettles and impresses the group. Violet decides to bring him to the meeting because she trusts him, not for magical utility where wards nullify magic.

In the great hall, the Senarium assembles with Halden presiding; Aetos and Markham flank him, and Xaden sits at the table’s end. Cat is present with a trusted ally, Drake Cordella. Halden announces that, with the cracked Amelian Citrine recovered and a meeting set with King Courtlyn, command is being transferred to Captain Henson, with orders to depart for Deverelli in two days and for Markham and Melgren to search Aretia for missed clues.

Violet rejects the plan outright, ripping the orders and refusing Henson’s command structure, the personnel selections, and any search of Aretia. She argues the previous mission’s deaths resulted from a team that lacked trust and cohesion. When Markham protests, she denounces his credibility for hiding centuries of history; when Aetos warns her, she invokes the authority of Tairn, Andarna, and the Empyrean. Mira arrives and silently backs Violet, who demands to choose her own squad for Deverelli.

Halden relents, offering one chance under the threat that failure will mean reassignment of command and potential nullification of the Second Aretia Accord terms. Violet accepts and names her team: Xaden Riorson, Mira Sorrengail, Ridoc Gamlyn, Cat (Catriona) as Poromish representative, Drake Cordella as Cat’s trusted flier, Dain Aetos for language skills, and Prince Halden with his guard. She justifies each pick, including the necessity of keeping Tairn and Sgaeyl together and Xaden’s lethality and Tyrrish heritage to reopen lines to the isles.

The Duchess of Morraine objects to Xaden leaving his Senarium seat and raises marriage proposals to secure her bloodline; Xaden dismisses her and formally commits to the mission, delegating his Senarium voice to Lewellen and class duties to Lieutenant Tavis. Halden declares the departure timeline unchanged: two days. Afterward, Mira confronts Drake over his role in the Montserrat ward breach, knees him in the groin, and warns him not to endanger Violet again. Mira then criticizes Violet’s risky roster—ex, current lover, former enemies, and Ridoc—but agrees to provision and join.

The chapter closes with Violet buoyed by the victory of commanding her own squad and anticipating their imminent departure, hopeful they are days from finding Andarna’s family, a cure for Xaden’s dark-wielder affliction, and the Deverelli item her father wanted retrieved. A closing excerpt from Asher’s work notes Tyrrendor was last to cut contact with the isles.