Raeve is marched barefoot through the crowded Ditch under heavy guard while posters announce her capture and execution. The Crown’s servants throw animal blood over her as part of the spectacle, and Raeve forces herself to stay composed because Uno’s foretelling convinced her no one should try to save her. On the way to the coliseum, Raeve accepts that her death has come and dwells on her final regrets: never killing Rekk Zharos and never learning to live as freely as Fallon once described.

As Raeve is led higher, she tries to steal one last look at the moons she loves, but snow-filled clouds hide them. In the coliseum, a hostile crowd gathers to watch. Guards bind Raeve tightly to a wooden stake in the snow, and the restraint triggers a surge of panic and helplessness. To steady herself, Raeve watches the dragons circling overhead and tries to treat the moment like a nightmare she might somehow survive.

When the Queen arrives in the imperial box, Raeve notices an unexpected reaction: the Queen stares at her with shock and emotional recognition rather than detached approval. As Moltenmaws descend toward the arena, the Queen begins screaming orders and then sings to Clode, summoning a violent wind. The cyclone drives snow and ice through the bowl of the coliseum and forces the execution dragons back, making Raeve realize the Queen is trying to save her rather than watch her die.

Before the Queen can finish that rescue, a colossal Sabersythe drops onto the coliseum. Its massive weight cracks the structure, sends stone falling, and throws the crowd into chaos as nobles are crushed and survivors flee. Raeve understands that a beast this size may not want to eat her immediately but could be taking her to Gondragh, the Sabersythe spawning grounds, for its young.

When the Sabersythe lowers its head to Raeve, something alien rises inside her. Raeve begins singing in a language she does not know, and the dragon seems to pause and listen as if it understands or is processing her words. That fragile hope ends when the Sabersythe strikes, closing its jaws around Raeve and the stake without burning her. The stake is torn free, and Raeve is swallowed into hot, crushing darkness as fear overwhelms her.