At the Gazette, Zeb Autry circulated a notice from the Inkridden Tribune hiring war correspondents for fifty bills a month and warned staff to report any such offers, calling the work dangerous and manipulative. Sarah Prindle questioned what the stance meant for Enva, prompting Zeb to disparage war talk and those swayed by Enva’s music, insisting the conflict would blow over and should remain Western Borough’s problem. Iris Winnow silently bristled, thinking of Forest Winnow’s enlistment and the east’s slow response to Dacre’s return.

Iris reflected on the war’s onset: Dacre’s rapid conquests in the west, pleas for aid, and the underestimation of his support, while Forest was among the first to enlist. She contrasted his peril with her own desk work, worrying about whether he was still alive.

Zeb summoned Iris and unexpectedly granted her three days to submit an open-topic essay; if it surpassed Roman Kitt’s, Zeb would publish it and consider her for the column. Iris recognized the opportunity but felt constrained, knowing she could not risk angering Zeb by writing about the war in a way he opposed.

At dusk outside the office, Roman approached Iris, noting she had been limping, then pressed her about the assignment. He asserted Zeb was giving her a special favor to promote her over him, implying pity rather than merit. Iris halted, offended, and demanded clarification.

Roman declared, “He pities you,” which stunned Iris and triggered a fierce exchange about class and credentials. Iris accused Roman of believing she belonged in menial work and rebuked his judgment about her dropping out of school. Roman insisted she was talented but argued she had become unreliable—late, missing assignments, and sloppy.

Wounded, Iris retorted that if Roman won, it would be due to his wealthy father bribing Zeb. Overcome, she left through the crowd as Roman called after her, ending the confrontation without resolution and leaving their rivalry and mutual resentment sharpened.