Gabriel lay awake in the initiates' barracks, reeling from his initiation and the Red Rite. He spoke with Theo Petit, apprentice to the executed Frère Yannick. Theo rejected Gabriel's offered prayers, insisting Gabriel should pray to meet the same fate with equal courage, then extinguished the lamp. Aaron de Coste curtly told Gabriel to sleep.

Roused by bells, Gabriel attended dawn mass, received angelgrace salve from Frère Greyhand for his aching, silver-inked tattoo, and was told to leave his new sword behind. Greyhand led him across San Michon to the Gauntlet for his first trial, warning that the day would be marked by blood and calling the first taste the sweetest and darkest.

In the arena, Abbot Khalid, Prioress Charlotte, Archivist Adamo, Forgemaster Argyle á Sadhbh, Sœur Aoife, and Seraph Talon de Montfort awaited. Talon, harsh and profane, announced himself as Seraph of the Hunt and trial master. He enforced discipline with his cane and declared the proceedings could end in success or death. The witnesses took seats while Talon questioned Gabriel about his sire; Gabriel knew nothing.

Talon introduced chymistrie and produced sanctus, a distilled sacrament of vampire blood used to quell paleblood thirst and unlock gifts. He outlined the four vampire bloodlines and their unique talents: Ironhearts (Blood Voss) with steel-like flesh and mind-reading; Shepherds (Blood Chastain) with dominion over animals and shapeshifting; Whispers (Blood Ilon) who manipulate emotions; and the Untamed (Blood Dyvok) with overwhelming strength. Talon briefly touched Gabriel's mind to demonstrate Ironheart talent and warned him to guard his thoughts.

Pressed for any past sign of a gift, Gabriel recalled fighting his wretched sister Amélie barehanded; Talon suggested Dyvok and chose to begin testing for that lineage, with Abbot Khalid observing. Talon had Sœur Aoife present a silver Naél-shaped pipe, poured sanctus into it, and requested Gabriel's consent, citing the Order's law against using gifts on brethren without it. Gabriel consented.

Talon struck the arena floor; hidden mechanisms raised a chained wretched—the same one brought from Lorson—into the star's center, and separate plinths lifted chained mongrel hounds around it. As the beasts snarled at the wretched, the monster fixed on Gabriel. Urged to "heed the hymn" by both Greyhand and Aoife, Gabriel inhaled sanctus.

The sanctus overwhelmed Gabriel with euphoria and power, which he likened to a blood-red symphony. As he wrestled for control, the sound of metal scraping stone cut through the haze. He opened his eyes to see the wretched charging straight at him, ending the chapter on the imminent attack.