After Queen Marlis demands twelve dragon eggs—two of each breed—as her price for an alliance, Violet and the group firmly refuse. Sgaeyl leaps from the wall and threatens the queen, nearly attacking her when Marlis tries to touch her. Xaden calmly suggests Sgaeyl pick a guard instead if she wants to kill someone. Violet tells Marlis that even considering the offer makes her unworthy, and Marlis departs with a parting suggestion that they'll return when desperation mounts. Violet realizes the connection to the second Krovlan uprising—the islanders weren't seeking feathertails for their gifts, but because they believed young dragons could be made malleable.

The group retrieves their weapons and returns to the meadow, where Trager tends to the wounded. Mira confronts Violet about whether she wielded during the storm, but Violet insists it was natural lightning and reminds everyone that magic doesn't work on the isles. Violet mentions the high priestess's strange comments and seeing a girl with silver-tipped hair like her own, which puzzles Mira since their family has no connection to the isles. Xaden insists on getting Violet's ribs wrapped, and the group prepares to leave as quickly as possible.

After resting the gryphons for a full day, the group flies thirteen hours south to Hedotis, the isle of wisdom, landing on the rocky coast of its capital, Vidirys. Violet notices the vegetation is even paler than on Unnbriel, including what appears to be a white-barked tarsilla plant. Andarna expresses discomfort with the place and insists her kind would not settle here. The city is uniform and unsettling—cream-stoned buildings with identical windows and muted flower baskets, rebuilt with "intention" about 150 years ago. The coastal city has no port, with trading vessels anchored offshore and only small boats on the beach.

Trager checks stitches on both Violet's and Xaden's arms, noting Violet's wound looks good but Xaden's is red and inflamed. Meanwhile, Drake and Mira argue about military tactics—specifically a Pelson flight formation—and Xaden warns Drake to stop being annoying, his tone turning cold. The group bickers while waiting, with hints of a romantic connection developing between Cat and Trager.

A welcoming party of six people approaches from the city. Their leader, Faris, introduces himself as the second of the triumvirate and invites the group to rest at his home. He has striking purple eyes, which Violet's father had described in his writings. Faris's wife, Talia, arrives behind him and immediately freezes upon seeing Xaden, staring at him with desperate intensity and whispering his name. Garrick goes pale with recognition. Xaden grips Violet protectively and identifies the woman with a single word: "Mom."