Viv helps Fern and Satchel unpack and shelve the long-awaited shipment of new books, admiring their fresh print and colorful covers. Gallina arrives with a bounty offer—a spineback nest down the coast threatening a farmer's sheep. Satchel surprisingly volunteers to assist, hinting at past experience with the creatures. Viv hesitates, worried that leaving Murk could allow Varine or Rackam to strike in her absence. Fern then teasingly reveals Gallina secretly reads romance novels.

While arranging the front display, Fern proposes selling Maylee's scones and biscuits in the shop to make it a more welcoming place, particularly after Viv leaves. The shift from "we" to "I" pricks Viv emotionally, but she encourages the plan. Viv also offers to convince the romance author Greatstrider to attend Fern's reopening, and Fern agrees to plan a grand event if she succeeds.

Viv runs errands, feeling unsettled, as if putting affairs in order before death. She arranges coach transport for the next day at the fortress livery, then visits Iridia to report Varine's sigil at the graveyard. Iridia is skeptical and refuses to let Viv access the necromantic book Viv suspects may help defeat Varine, demanding more honesty in exchange.

That evening, Viv meets Maylee as she closes the bakery. Their reunion is warm and unstrained. Viv passes along Fern's proposal about selling baked goods at the bookshop, and they spend the evening together cleaning and chatting, letting the looming future fade into the background.