Roman writes a secret letter to Iris at night, warning that what he is sharing is dangerous and must be burned after reading. He explains that Dacre is restoring the under-realm pathways and that the noises Iris has been hearing are likely workers clearing the ley lines. Roman then reveals the urgent threat: in three days, Dacre plans to seize Hawk Shire by attacking from within through magical doorways while surrounding it with his forces.

Roman urges Iris to flee if she is in Hawk Shire and warns that Oath is Dacre’s next target after the town falls. He tells Iris not to reply because he will be unable to answer and may soon be moved elsewhere. His closing makes clear that his warning is motivated not only by conscience but by his care for Iris.

When Iris reads the letter the next morning, she is shaken both by the practical danger and by Roman’s personal words. The thought of Dacre’s workers moving beneath the earth chills her, and the coming attack on Hawk Shire immediately alarms her. Realizing the warning cannot be ignored, Iris leaves her room to find Attie.

Iris interrupts Attie and Tobias while they are cleaning the roadster and asks Tobias to drive her toward Hawk Shire. Tobias initially refuses because Marisol Hammond ordered him not to take Iris beyond Winthrop, so Iris asks instead to be taken that far and says she will find another way onward. When Attie asks what happened, Iris gives her Roman’s letter, and Attie quickly connects the danger to Keegan, who is in Hawk Shire.

Tobias then reads the letter as well and asks who "R." is and how Iris received it. Iris understands that by sharing the warning she is also exposing the secret correspondence she had kept hidden. Even so, the danger to Hawk Shire matters more, and Tobias, convinced by the urgency, agrees to drive Iris to Hawk Shire and tells her she can explain everything on the journey.