Odessa awoke alone in the inn room and found a note from the Guardian stating he had business to finish and instructing her not to wander far. Interpreting this as permission to test her freedom, she took her satchel and knives and went out into Ashmore’s morning streets, observing townsfolk, including a weary man with a spear and a passerby in a teal coat that reminded her of Quentis.

Seeking the library without asking for directions, Odessa found only a charred ruin—bookshelves and pages destroyed by fire—concluding King Ramsey’s soldiers had burned it. Upset, she left the site asking aloud why a king would burn books, and was joined unexpectedly by Cathlin, who fell into step and offered to show her around. Odessa admitted she had come to Ashmore alone and that the Guardian had warned her not to wander far; Cathlin advised listening, noting the Guardian was sworn to protect Odessa.

Cathlin led Odessa through town to a wide trench opening into a tunnel network. Cathlin explained these were new, deeper, reinforced migration tunnels connected to community shelters and larger buildings like the inn, built because the previous migration’s tunnels had failed when crux scented and killed those hiding underground. The looming migration weighed on Odessa as they continued walking past homes and a boy playing at swords.

When Odessa asked why Cathlin was in Ashmore, Cathlin said she was visiting an old lover but did not see a future, and lamented missing the library before it was destroyed. Discussing Ramsey, Cathlin blamed him bluntly—saying he had lost his mind—for burning books. Pressed about her own presence, Odessa lied that she had come to learn more about Turah to prepare for marrying Zavier, citing the loss of books as a hindrance, and Cathlin acknowledged Odessa’s role as the Sparrow with respect.

At the edge of town, Cathlin described how most Turan settlements rely on natural barriers, unlike exposed Ashmore, and explained that the king had withdrawn army protection from such towns. Odessa noted the villagers’ improvised watches and questioned the reason for the withdrawal. Cathlin suggested Ramsey wanted people to move to the cities; Odessa wondered if it was for safety or surveillance, which Cathlin praised as a keen insight.

Before Odessa could ask more, Cathlin abruptly silenced her and scanned the street as bells began clinking at every door—warning bells. Townsfolk rushed indoors, including the boy. Cathlin told Odessa to run to the inn, and they hurried against the flow of people as a barrage of loud clicks echoed between buildings. Recognizing the sound from a prior frightening encounter, Odessa realized there were bariwolves in Ashmore.