Gideon is brought in chains to the study of the Good Commander, where Noah Creed now sits in his father’s place. Harrow, Noah’s spymaster, reports that a witch informant inside Cressida’s ranks says Soren has given Cressida an army and will soon sail against the New Republic. Gideon interrupts to argue that killing Rune would only worsen the threat by driving Soren to total war. Instead, Gideon lays out a plan: let Rune lead them to Cressida’s hidden Roseblood relative, kill that heir before Cressida can use them, arrest Rune, and use Rune as leverage to force Soren to betray Cressida.

Noah and the ministers doubt Gideon, so Gideon asks for the sibyl Aurelia Kantor to verify his claims. Aurelia is brought in shackled and desperate to see her young daughter, Meadow, who is being used to control her. When Aurelia hesitates to answer Noah’s questions, Noah escalates brutally by having Meadow brought in and threatening the child’s hand with a sword. Under that pressure, Aurelia confirms that Queen Winoa had a fourth child who was believed to have died at birth but was actually stolen away. She cannot identify the missing Roseblood because something is magically blocking her Sight, but she confirms that the person is alive.

Gideon presses the crucial question: whether Cressida can resurrect her sisters through this hidden relative. Aurelia explains that the resurrection spell requires the blood and life of a close family member. That means Cressida could use the missing sibling as the sacrifice, but if that person is found and killed first, Cressida cannot perform the spell without dying herself. This revelation proves Gideon’s strategy is the best chance to stop both the invasion and the possible return of Elowyn and Analise.

With Meadow briefly released back to Aurelia, Harrow and Noah turn to military intelligence. Aurelia confirms that Soren has provided Cressida with eleven ironclads, nine gunboats, seven troopships, and thousands of soldiers. She also reveals the political bargain behind the alliance: after Cressida takes the capital, Soren is to marry Rune Winters, and if that marriage does not happen, he will withdraw his forces. Noah then gives Gideon two days to make his plan work. If Gideon fails to deliver Rune, Noah will treat that failure as proof that Gideon sympathizes with witches and will execute him.

After securing his release from chains, Gideon escorts Aurelia away under the pretense of returning her to her cell. In the empty corridor, Gideon tries to bargain for more information, asking where Cressida is keeping Elowyn and Analise’s bodies. Aurelia refuses to trust him and makes her own demand instead: Gideon must free Meadow first. She turns back toward the prison, making it clear that Gideon will get nothing more from her until her daughter is safely returned.