At sunset, Gabriel de León’s company beds down in a misty, ruined huntsman’s hovel. The group decides to risk a fire despite pursuit, reasoning that the inquisitors also need rest and that Danton Voss, now missing an arm, will be delayed by the river and the time needed to regenerate. They plan watches, with Saoirse and Phoebe to relieve later, and Gabriel orders Dior to gather dry kindling.

Gabriel surveys Saoirse’s gear, noting her double-bladed axe, Kindness, likely hafted in trothwood, and exchanges barbs with her about named weapons and Ashdrinker. Bellamy attempts to play a ballad about Gabriel’s past, but Gabriel shuts him down and sends him for wood. Père Rafa prepares soup from his supplies while Gabriel sets up a chymist’s foundry, filling an outer chamber with salted water and the inner with blood he identifies as belonging to Danton Voss’s daughter, which he intends to desiccate for sanctus preparation.

As the device works, Gabriel smokes a small dose of sanctus to quell his thirst, his eyes flushing red. Dior observes that Gabriel uses blood like vampires, but Chloe counters that silversaints are born of vampire fathers yet fight for the light, using sanctus to restrain their thirst. Gabriel questions how long inquisitors have hunted Chloe; she admits since Lashaame, but she and Saoirse refuse to share details, asserting Gabriel knows enough to help them reach the Volta.

Rafa calls them to Godthanks before eating, welcoming Gabriel in prayer. Gabriel reacts angrily, hurling a brick into the fire and warning Rafa not to pray for him. A tense exchange follows in which Rafa appeals to faith and Gabriel rejects servitude to God, mocking piety even as Rafa points to Gabriel’s sevenstar brand. Gabriel insists that any prayer exclude his name.

Gabriel finishes his soup, takes a pull of vodka, and stalks into the dark to take first watch with Ashdrinker, leaving the others to rest. Behind him, Dior mutters to Chloe that Gabriel is no “faithful warrior of God,” underscoring the rift between Gabriel’s methods and the group’s faith and secrecy.