Night falls as a vicious wind scatters embers through the border camp, and warriors surge toward the frozen River Darn carrying massive sledgehammers and axes. Saeris Fane urges Carrion to stay out of the fight, but Carrion refuses to hide and drags Saeris along, betting they can at least help break ice.

On the riverbank, Saeris and Carrion see enormous Ice Breaker Fae hammering the thick ice in time with a drum. Holgoth, an earth sprite, rushes past and warns that the Sanasrothian horde—fifty thousand strong—has arrived without warning; when Carrion demands clarification, Holgoth shouts that they are vampires.

Blue-white orbs arc into the air and explode across the ice, blasting holes and destabilizing the surface as the first vampires sprint onto it anyway. Saeris and Carrion seize hammers and join the desperate effort, even as jets of fire sweep the river and still fail to halt the advancing feeders. Saeris pushes through pain and torn palms, striking until the ice begins to give.

The river ice finally shatters, and a rolling carpet of black smoke surges over the surface. The vampires who were on the ice plunge into the freezing water, and the smoke solidifies to grapple them, forcing them under and drowning them. Saeris recognizes the magic at work and tells Carrion it is Kingfisher.

The vampires stop their push, but a taunting voice calls out from the far bank. Malcolm, king of the vampires, steps forward and publicly baits Kingfisher, claiming they spoke only weeks ago and implying a connection that could sow distrust among the Fae. After mocking Kingfisher for hiding, Malcolm promises he will be “seeing” him soon, then withdraws behind his horde’s line.