Violet panicked over Tairn’s injury as Feirge pursued Theophanie’s wyvern into the sky. Violet and Andarna called Feirge back, fearing Theophanie’s power. Xaden briefly cut into Violet’s mind to steady her and ordered her to return to the wards. On the ground, Tairn revealed a wingspur lodged in his hind leg, and they limped toward Dunne’s temple, where Andarna had stationed herself with sword-bearing attendants.

Violet rebuked Andarna for ignoring orders to protect the temple on Aaric’s instruction, and Andarna pushed back, questioning whether she was being what Violet wanted. Rhiannon arrived safely, and using her signet, wrenched the embedded wingspur free from Tairn’s thigh, though more wyvern closed in. With civilians present, Violet decided to remain on the ground to defend the attendants rather than take to the air with the wounded Tairn.

At the temple steps, the high priestess and attendants refused to take shelter, declaring faith in Dunne. Theophanie then appeared at the base of the steps, threatening to kill everyone unless Violet surrendered, and offered to give Violet “what you want most.” Violet realized Theophanie had been a priestess of Dunne, noting her faded tattoo and silver hair. Two male venin in red robes joined Theophanie, and Andarna’s fire failed to harm her.

Suddenly Theophanie looked skyward, panicked, and ordered the venin to flee. The three clasped hands and vanished with a single step, echoing Garrick’s shadowstepping. With no time to analyze why Theophanie fled, Violet struck the oncoming wyvern with lightning, killing the lead and sending the rest plummeting. One corpse slammed into the temple stairs and central pillar, shattering it and sending deadly marble shards toward the attendants.

Xaden arrived, using shadows to arrest the flying debris and lower it safely. Blood-streaked but uninjured, he embraced Violet. Sgaeyl and Tairn argued over responsibility for Tairn’s wound, and Xaden explained they had been nearly there “when the wards went up,” which accounted for the wyvern falling and Theophanie’s fear.

Shadows shifted near the fallen wyvern, revealing Leothan, whose horns mirrored Andarna’s patterning. Leothan stated he had fired the wardstone, confirming the irids’ arrival. The chapter closed with a journal entry by Captain Lilith Sorrengail noting Asher’s return and hinting at grave, undisclosed consequences.