Shaken by the tarkin attack and weakened by the Voster High Priest’s magic, Odessa struggled to stand near the corpse while the Guardian and the High Priest inspected it. Tillia arrived, supported Odessa, and led her to the infirmary despite Odessa’s protest. Tillia explained that two tarkin, both Lyssa-infected, had attacked Treow together—unusual behavior for tarkin—and that eight people had died: five Ellder soldiers and three townspeople, including a seventeen-year-old stable boy, a cook, and a maid. She admitted Treow no longer felt secure and left to oversee burning the carcasses.

As Odessa tried to leave, her skin prickled with the High Priest’s magic. She discovered the Guardian in an infirmary room undergoing a ritual; the High Priest placed hands near the Guardian’s chest and bite scar, channeling power that caused the Guardian severe pain. When Odessa tried to enter, the High Priest slammed the door with magic. Disturbed, Odessa wondered whether the Voster’s green-eyed magic was linked to Lyssa and whether the Voster might be involved in its origin.

Outside, Odessa reunited with Brielle and recounted her weeks away: Ashmore, the bariwolves, Ellder, and the return to Treow for the attack. She withheld mention of Evangeline and Lyssa. When asked about Allesaria, Odessa admitted finding nothing and briefly entertained Brielle’s notion that it might be a myth designed to lure foreign interest, though she was too exhausted to dwell on it.

Odessa returned to her treehouse, forcing herself up the newly replaced ladder despite fear. She found Evangeline asleep in her bed. They cuddled, shared dinner brought by Brielle and Jocelyn, and Odessa comforted Evangeline, who spoke of wanting a pet monster and to become a hunter like her father. Odessa bathed and braided Evangeline’s hair and put her to sleep.

Later on the balcony, Odessa met the Guardian, who looked ill and depleted. She told him she had seen the infirmary ritual, and he explained that the High Priest had been siphoning Lyssa from his blood, not as a cure—there is none—but for study. He revealed the High Priest’s investigation: Lyssa initially resembled effects of fenek tusk poison and adhered strongly to korakin (derived from kaverine dung), suggesting a connection to alchemical substances rather than pure magic. He admitted uncertainty whether Lyssa was magical or created and vowed violent revenge if someone had engineered it.

Odessa pressed to help find Lyssa’s source, promising to follow orders for safety. After resisting, the Guardian reluctantly agreed, warning he would regret it. Before leaving, he addressed her by her name, thanked her for saving the children, and bowed with hands over his heart. Odessa noted that her rope ladder remained attached through the night.