Gideon watches Rune ride away from Bart Wentholt’s cottage and realizes she is probably not coming back. Harrow finds him at the window and questions why he did not leave with Rune. Gideon explains that Rune would never truly respect him if he abandoned innocent people to save himself, and he believes fear has only made her lose sight of who she is, not changed her completely.

Harrow then warns Gideon that Westport Station is full of Cressida’s soldiers, spies, and witch-hunting hounds, and that Bess bought Rune’s ticket there that morning. She urges Gideon to follow Rune at least long enough to make sure she gets safely onto the train. Their exchange also reveals a subtle shift in Harrow, whose harsh certainty seems weakened, possibly because of Juniper.

At Westport Station, Gideon arrives disguised in Bart’s borrowed traveling clothes and learns the station is closing at sundown by Cressida’s order as part of the hunt for the Crimson Moth. He spots Rune despite the illusion she uses to alter her hair, face, and eyes. Gideon intends only to watch until she boards the last departing train, then leave before he is recognized.

When a hunting hound suddenly catches Rune’s scent and pulls a soldier toward her, Gideon intervenes. He deliberately tangles himself in the leash and provokes the soldiers into focusing on him, buying Rune time to board while the train prepares to depart. Gideon keeps the confrontation going until the train is moving and Rune is safely out of reach, but then an unfamiliar witch with silver casting scars recognizes him as Captain Sharpe. She disarms him, reveals she has orders to bring him in dead or alive, and takes him captive.