For a week since arriving in Ellder, Odessa had fallen into a routine of mornings with Evangeline and solitary afternoons filled with reading, knife practice, mapping, and regret over Ashmore, Brielle and Jocelyn, and the Guardian. After a near disaster playing hide-and-seek the previous day, Odessa refused another round and proposed exploring the fortress instead. Evangeline eagerly led her out from Zavier’s large house and past the barracks toward the mountains anchoring Ellder’s timber wall.

Evangeline revealed a concealed cave entrance: Ellder’s “dungeons,” which contained empty cells converted into a clandestine cache. Inside, Odessa found stacks of books, scrolls, god figurines, medallions, and other trinkets. Evangeline explained this was Luella’s secret place to hide special books, away from King Ramsey’s burnings. Odessa’s hope rose at the sight of scrolls that might include maps.

Luella caught them in the tunnels, scolded gently, and warned Evangeline not to return without an adult. Cathlin then arrived safely, embraced them both, and added three leather-bound books to Luella’s collection. She confirmed she had given Odessa an introductory Turah book and selected five more for Odessa: Calandran histories, a bestiary of Turah’s creatures, a thin volume on the crux and migrations, and a red book of myths and legends featuring the tale of Sora, who sailed beyond the horizon and returned with unknown creatures. Cathlin voiced urgency to learn before Ramsey discovered and destroyed the cache.

When Odessa asked why Ramsey burned books, Luella diverted her to escort Evangeline away. Evangeline and Odessa covertly listened as Luella confronted Cathlin, accusing her of being “up to something” and warning that if “he” found out there would be hell to pay; Cathlin called the books merely reading for Odessa, and both women alluded to Evangeline being like her mother. Their voices dropped, ending the eavesdropping.

Back at the gardens, Evangeline showed trinkets and kittens before Zavier unexpectedly returned, warmly greeting his daughter and acknowledging Odessa’s now-red hair. He invited Odessa to dinner, and she withdrew to read. As she reached her suite, the Guardian was waiting: clean, shaven, and healthy. He tossed her a sheathed sword, saying, “My queen demanded a sword,” and told her they were going to train, prompting Odessa to follow him despite conflicted feelings.