Inside Château Aveléne, Gabriel recounted to Aaron and Baptiste the journey and Dior’s miraculous blood: turning vampires to flame and reviving the near-dead. Aaron and Baptiste listened gravely, studying Dior as they stood before a map showing the empire’s losses to the Blood Voss, bears, snakes, and wolves, the threats creeping toward Augustin. Dior admitted her blood drew coldbloods to her, and Gabriel stressed that the Forever King had set his son, Danton Voss, on their trail.

When Baptiste asked why the Beast wanted Dior, Dior repeated Danton’s claim about a black crown before which even the Forever King would bow. Aaron dismissed vampire words as lies and asked about Liathe, the masked hunter; Gabriel admitted ignorance of her motives but noted she and Danton were rivals who both wanted Dior alive. Gabriel proposed luring the Beast and killing him, then taking Dior to San Michon.

Aaron questioned Gabriel’s trust in the Ordo Argent after what they had done to Gabriel and Astrid, and Baptiste asked after Astrid and Patience, prompting a pained but brief update from Gabriel. Dior defended the plan to reach San Michon, honoring Sister Chloe and fallen allies who believed the monastery held answers to daysdeath. Aaron pledged support without apology, declaring he trusted Gabriel’s word and would fight for Dior, while Baptiste added confidence in their faith and his innovations.

Aaron announced prièdi mass and a feast to celebrate friends old and new, teasing Gabriel’s cooking along with Dior and Baptiste. The camaraderie moved Gabriel as he felt the old brotherhood return, grateful for their willingness to risk all on his word.

Baptiste then toured the fortified château: a single winding approach road, battlement engineering, fire throwers, ballistae, coal stores, and a chymical still producing wood alcohol. Aaron described their hundred trained warriors and scouts to give early warning. Dior delighted in a pen of more than two dozen Nordlund sled hounds; Baptiste explained they used teams to trade on the frozen Mère, though he and Aaron avoided San Michon after past rejection.

In the stores, Dior noticed a smell; Aaron revealed they collected urine and nightsoil for salpêtre. With sulphur and charcoal, they had been manufacturing black ignis for years, barrels marked with Mahné’s scythes. Surveying soldiers, forges, dogs, and strong stone, Aaron vowed Aveléne could withstand the Prince of Forever’s assault. Gabriel allowed himself hope that they had found sanctuary at last.

In the present frame, the Last Silversaint drank as the historian wrote. Jean-François warned, “You should have fucking known better,” and Gabriel agreed, signaling that the hope of safety at Aveléne would prove misplaced.