Emily and Wendell miss the conference plenary, but the omission has little consequence because Wendell makes himself highly visible elsewhere. He sits on three panels, charms his way onto a fourth, and even secures Emily a place on another. Emily finds that, despite the tedious dinners, she is more comfortable among scholars than in ordinary social settings because their conversations center on ideas rather than manners.

As their own presentation approaches, Emily waits nervously in the room behind the stage and watches scholars file in. Wendell arrives late, immaculate in a black suit and pleased with himself. Emily notes that he has spent the voyage back painstakingly restoring his appearance after his ordeal, a process so vain and unsettling that she avoided him whenever possible.

Wendell confirms that their exhibits are ready. The display includes the melted remains of a faerie cloak, the ice-chain necklace the king gave Emily, and a jagged piece of volcanic rock from one of Krystjan's fields containing a tiny wooden door that disappears in direct sunlight. These objects turn their talk from theory into a demonstration, and Emily feels as though she is about to perform magic before a skeptical audience.

Just before they step out, Wendell takes Emily's hand and jokes that if she had already accepted his proposal, they could have appeared as husband and wife and caused even greater gossip. Emily deflects the remark by teasing him about a flaw in the face he has restored. Then, with Emily steadying herself against the scholars' anticipated criticism, the two of them walk onto the stage together to begin their presentation.