Oak and Hyacinthe land amid a violent storm conjured by Bogdana, who has sealed off Insear to prevent aid while she and Wren await news of the royal family's deaths. Oak realizes Randalin's plot has a flaw: because Oak never married Wren, killing the royals wouldn't automatically place her on the throne—she still needs him alive. Soaked, wounded from being stabbed in the back and slashed at the neck, Oak resolves that despite still loving Wren, he must protect his family and Elfhame.

Ducking into an empty tent, Oak presses Hyacinthe for Wren and Bogdana's location. Hyacinthe, torn by his sworn debt to Wren but motivated by Tiernan's capture, reveals that Bogdana stowed her cottage as a walnut and instructed the falcons to meet on Insmoor. Oak proposes a desperate way to cross the sea to the small isle.

They go to Jack of the Lakes, the kelpie, and Oak calls in his service. Jack agrees to carry Oak underwater to Insmoor, promising not to devour him, though he teases about Hyacinthe. Tatterfell hastily stitches Oak's back wound and binds his sword to him, since he has lost the sheath. Hyacinthe insists on coming along to rescue Tiernan.

On the beach, Jack transforms into a sharp-toothed horse and the three lash themselves together with rope. Oak takes a deep breath as Jack plunges into the freezing, churning sea. As they swim, Oak's lungs burn and Hyacinthe's grip slackens. Jack does not surface in time, and Oak finally loses his hold on his breath as water rushes into his lungs.