Kiela leads Captain Varrik and his soldiers up the cliff stairs to the old cottage, while Larran unexpectedly heads off to take his merhorse herd to sea, leaving her to face the imperials alone. Kiela hides her panic, worried the soldiers will discover Caz, Meep, Radane, or the spellbooks hidden inside the bramble-covered cottage.

At the cottage, the soldiers begin searching, but Kiela warns them about thorns and poison ivy. Captain Varrik then invents a 'fact' about a poisonous Caltrey red berry resembling raspberries, ordering his soldiers out of the brambles. Kiela realizes he is deliberately helping her end the search. Their conversation reveals Varrik's reluctance about his mission—he acknowledges that the heir 'always wanted her own life.'

A sailor returns from the cove reporting no boat, only a fresh rope—Kiela understands Larran left to move the incriminating library boat, salvaging her lie about selling it to Radane. The soldiers report no sign of habitation, and Varrik formally ends the search.

As a storm gathers, Varrik prepares to leave. Fenerer arrives demanding sanctuary aboard the ship, fearing retribution. Varrik rejects this, but Kiela cleverly invokes imperial law to request Fenerer be removed to Alyssium as compensation for his false accusations. Varrik agrees. As he boards, Varrik quietly tells Kiela he hopes he doesn't find the heir, then sails away ahead of the approaching storm.