Ransom and Odessa had shared three secluded days together before his planned solo ride to Allesaria at dawn. The morning after, Ransom met privately with Zavier to prepare, and Odessa, aching at the impending separation, resolved to travel to Quentis to bargain with her father, King Cross, for an army and unrestricted access to his vaults to fund a Lyssa cure. She also intended to demand answers about her mother and the Voster’s questions regarding her heritage.

Evie arrived at Odessa’s suite saddened by Zavier’s upcoming departure with the rangers to hunt a one-eyed bariwolf. Odessa took over caring for Evie for the day. During a game of hide-and-seek in Luella’s vacated rooms, Evie revealed a concealed wall that led to a hidden migration cellar stocked with cots, supplies, and items Luella had moved from the dungeon. Evie then showed a secret compartment under the stairs holding three books; one was a black leather volume stamped with the same winged emblem as Odessa’s pendant. Odessa resisted taking them immediately, planning to retrieve them later.

Odessa and Evie spent the day together in Ellder—buying a stuffed rabbit Evie named Merry, sharing sweets, and feeding horses. After Zavier collected Evie that evening, Odessa, restless, walked to the ramparts to await Ransom. He joined her, and they confronted the pain of parting. Odessa demanded he promise to return and admitted that “freedom” was meaningless if either of them died. Ransom did not promise, but he said he had no regrets.

Ransom then revealed a critical decision: he would take Luella with him to Allesaria because she wished to atone and might be the only person able to convince King Ramsey that his Lyssa experiments doom Turah. Odessa worried Ramsey might try to kill Luella again, but Ransom accepted the risk and asked Odessa to watch over Evie; Odessa agreed and promised to get Evie to Quentis if disaster struck Ransom, Luella, or Zavier.

As they spoke, Ransom’s eyes reflected torchlight in the distance. The sounds of hooves and the metallic clink of armor rose from the forest, and torches glowed off helms and breastplates. Realizing an army was advancing on Ellder, Ransom shouted an urgent command to keep the gates closed, ending their farewell on the brink of a siege.