Ransom orders Ellder’s gates barred as a massive Turan legion approaches under King Ramsey’s banner. Soldiers and townsfolk are confused and afraid, but Ransom refuses entry until Zavier arrives. He explains that Ramsey warned him in Ravalli and that he cannot command Ellder’s soldiers to defy their king because of his oath.

Zavier joins Ransom, and after assessing the threat, signals to open the gates. The legion floods the courtyard, forming an aisle for Ramsey, who dismounts to confront Ransom. Additional troops slip in through the side gate to surround the crowd. Brother Dime enters with Ramsey, followed by General Banner—wearing Quentis’s emblem—raising questions about Quentis’s involvement.

Ramsey announces a crux scout was sighted two days prior on the western front and commands that unnecessary Ellder troops depart for Allesaria that night. He orders Ransom to ride with him. Ransom instead points to Banner and demands answers; Ramsey claims a bargain with the Gold King and Banner to take Banner’s fiancée back to Quentis. Both Ransom and Odessa refuse to send Odessa away.

The truth is revealed when Jocelyn, once Odessa’s lady’s maid, appears leading soldiers and is unmasked as a spy. Brielle arrives with Jocelyn’s group and rushes into Banner’s arms; their reunion shows Brielle, not Odessa, is Banner’s fiancée, secured through Jocelyn’s information. Soldiers then drag Luella forward, confirming Jocelyn betrayed Ellder by identifying the queen who stayed near the Guardian.

Ransom blocks the soldiers and forces them to release Luella. Luella, resolute, tells Ransom this confrontation was inevitable and steps to face Ramsey. Ramsey cites a Quentin spy’s report that a woman resembling the queen tutored a four-year-old girl and taunts Luella about the child’s identity. Cathlin denounces him. Ramsey roughly seizes Luella, escalating the standoff as weapons are drawn on both sides.

Odessa snatches Ransom’s sword and holds it to Ramsey’s throat, vowing she will not let him kill Luella. Ramsey shoves Luella aside and disarms Odessa with brutal speed; soldiers restrain Ransom, limited by his blood oath to the king. Ramsey shakes Odessa, and she knees him, but he retaliates by yanking her hair before releasing her with a shove into Brother Dime.

Brother Dime’s touch ignites unbearable magical pain in Odessa, dropping her to her knees and ripping a scream from her throat. Ransom breaks free to pull Odessa away and warns Ramsey he will kill him, declaring Odessa is his life. Ramsey replies that Odessa will be Ransom’s death and Luella his own. As the courtyard falls into tense silence, the screaming gives way to the beating of wings: the crux have arrived overhead.