Larran begins constructing a false wall to hide Kiela's bookshelves while Kiela races to the village to warn Radane about the imperial warship. Kiela realizes the soldiers are likely there for Radane, not her, since word of her remedies couldn't have spread that quickly. She finds Radane and Bryn at the dock, where Radane reveals the ship's captain is the man her parents wanted her to marry — he will recognize her on sight, making any cover story useless.

The three retreat to the bakery to plan. They settle on spreading the lie that the imperial investigator left the island that morning after finding nothing, while hiding Radane using an untested invisibility spell tied to her ruby. Bryn disguises Radane in baker's clothes to sneak her up to the cottage. Eadie bursts in, ready to defend Kiela, then agrees to help by herding the entire village to the docks as a distraction and welcoming committee. Bryn and Radane share a desperate kiss before parting.

Kiela and Radane reach the cottage, where Larran and Caz are nailing planks over the bookshelves — work too slow and obvious to succeed. Caz finds the invisibility spell, but it requires a snow flower and lightning-struck sand, neither readily available. Caz privately urges Kiela to find another plan, warning that an untested spell could endanger them all.

In the garden, Kiela appeals to the cloud bear forest spirit, recalling folktales of people who vanished in the woods. The spirit demonstrates by melting into a tree. Despite Caz's worries and the lack of certainty, Radane chooses to trust the spirits, who swarm her and dissolve her into hiding. Kiela then announces she has a plan to deal with the books, involving raspberries.