The group enters Eistol’s temple plaza, where blue-robed, silver-haired attendants assemble. Violet notices a young girl with a silver-tipped braid identical to Violet’s own unusual hair, which deeply rattles her and raises questions about shared traits and health issues. Guards ready weapons as a cavalry captain announces the visitors, and Tairn urges Violet to focus.

A gate opens and the city’s commander of the guard and an elderly high priestess of Dunne appear. After Dain translates initial exchanges, Violet affirms they will follow Unnbriel’s customs to gain an audience with the queen. The commander demotes the cavalry captain on the spot and declares that Unnbriel will test the visitors’ worthiness by combat, requiring their strongest warriors to fight.

Three renowned warriors—twins Costa and Palta, and the towering Marlis—are presented to the cheers of the wall guards. The commander asks if Xaden is their champion or their prince; Aaric, in fluent Unnbrish, identifies himself as Navarre’s prince and tries to claim the fight, but Xaden shuts him down, insisting Aaric must live. Aaric then pointedly tells the Unnbrieli that Xaden is the strongest, referencing Xaden’s lethal past for emphasis.

The high priestess marks the start of the trials with ritual blood. She cuts Costa’s arm, then takes Xaden’s blood as payment for Dunne, prompting Violet’s fear since Xaden cannot use his second signet to read intentions. As Xaden readies himself, the priestess critiques Violet’s disapproval of the test, claiming bloodshed reveals character, and notes they will now negotiate weapons. She unexpectedly declares Xaden should not fight alone and cuts Dain’s forearm, conscripting him into the trials despite Violet’s protests and Aaric’s attempt to intervene.

The guards announce that Palta will be the second opponent, pitting him against Dain. The priestess studies the group, calling Aaric honorable but foolish and dismissing Violet as the smallest. She questions Violet about whether she chose her path and alludes to an unfinished “dedication” and the temple’s “touch,” suggesting Violet has potential ties to Dunne. Violet rejects the goddess and declares she chooses Xaden (and Tairn) instead.

The priestess states Dunne’s doctrine that battles can be lost by the weakest as well as won by the strongest and declares both must be tested. She then slices Violet’s forearm, drawing blood and effectively drafting Violet into the combat trials as rain begins to fall, while Xaden and Dain move to negotiate weapons with Costa and Palta.