In the aftermath of the eithral siren in the fields outside Avalon Bluff, Iris Winnow pulled away from Roman Kitt and chastised him for crossing open ground during the alarm. Roman admitted he did not understand the siren or eithrals, apologized, and asked about protocols. Iris confirmed the danger and said Marisol Torres could brief him further, then demanded to know why he had come.

Roman stated he was in Avalon Bluff to report on the war, not to chase Iris. When Iris questioned his position and motives, Roman explained he left the Oath Gazette because he no longer wanted to work under Zeb Autry. Pressed about his engagement, he disclosed he had broken it and hinted that his father was furious and unlikely to worry about him. Iris, cooling, agreed to take him to Marisol’s lodging.

Back at the B and B, Attie Attwood berated Iris for risking herself, then was stunned to meet Roman. Roman recognized Attie by name and presented a copy of the Inkridden Tribune featuring Attie’s front-page article, The Path of Dacre’s Destruction. Attie, elated, ran off to write a letter, likely to the professor who had dismissed her. Roman then produced another Tribune showing Iris’s own front-page article, The Unexpected Face of War, and described the impact in Oath, noting Zeb Autry’s anger and the readership’s growing awareness.

Marisol arrived, alarmed by the siren, and found Roman in her kitchen. Roman introduced himself, said Helena Hammond had sent him, and explained that the train broke down so he walked into town. After a brief, awkward exchange in which Iris and Roman gave conflicting answers about knowing each other, they agreed they were acquaintances from the Oath Gazette. Marisol welcomed Roman, warned that he would sleep on the floor like the others due to donated mattresses, and showed him to a private room.

Before he left, Roman told Iris to keep the newspaper with her headline. Iris privately wondered if Roman had come to outshine her again, given his competitive nature. That night, she lay awake thinking of her mother’s death, touching her locket and resisting looking at the jar of ashes on her desk, while wishing for guidance to find her brother Forest. Through the thin wall, she listened to Roman typing in the adjacent room and fell asleep to the sound, thinking briefly of Carver.