Kaan arrives in the crater and immediately dominates the scene, while the Johkull acknowledge his rank. Hock still straddles Raeve and insists on claiming victory in the Tookah Trial even though Raeve never submitted. As Saiza and another woman pull Raeve away, Saiza translates the confrontation: Kaan argues the trial should be void because Raeve was not raised in Johkull customs, but Hock rejects that and challenges Kaan instead.

While Raeve is taken to the tent, Saiza explains more of the clan hierarchy. Kaan is the roskr-eh, the greatest, though he is no longer Oah because he surrendered that place after his pah died. Raeve, dizzy and bleeding, wants to escape, but Saiza notices a vahli serpent bite on her breast and realizes Hock poisoned her during the fight. Saiza gives Raeve an antidote, which begins to steady her.

In the crater, the Sol performs a ritual to read the Creators' will. She declares that because blood has already been spilled in Raeve's honor, Raeve cannot leave the crater unclaimed; if she does, more moons will fall there, the Johkull will lose their sanctuary, and many will die. The ruling silences the crowd and changes the conflict from a personal dispute into a threat to the entire clan.

Kaan then comes to Raeve, removes his malmr, kneels, and offers it to her. Raeve is shaken by the intensity of her response, but she takes it. Saiza explains that Kaan is asking Raeve to place her print on his reidi and name herself his roskr, meaning he is raising her above his own honor; if he dies, his title passes to her, and any choice Raeve makes, including leaving, cannot be challenged. Moved by the sacrifice and what it reveals about Kaan's feelings, Raeve presses her bloodied hand to the moon on his back and accepts. Kaan trembles, rises, strikes his chest six times, and turns toward the weapon rack to face Hock.