Dragged from the shuttle by lion-badged Obsidians, Darrow and Mustang are shocked, restrained, and forced to their knees beside Sevro’s body. Lilath, the first Bonerider, oversees scans while Antonia watches. Cassius asserts his Morning Knight authority, refuses to sell Sevro’s bones to Tharsus, and protects Mustang from being manhandled, but cannot overrule Lilath’s orders.

On Lilath’s command, Darrow is uncuffed only to be spread and bound by Boneriders’ razors as his slingBlade is heated. Antonia tries to reach the Jackal, but Lilath delays her. The preparations turn grim—tourniquet ready—as the hangar’s mood shifts with the approach of the Jackal and his cohort of Boneriders.

The Jackal inspects Sevro’s corpse, taunts Mustang with childhood memories, then confronts Darrow, revealing armor inlaid with Fitchner’s ribs and taking Sevro’s pistol as a trophy. A holo from the Ash Lord reports an enemy advance and assumes command of the Jackal’s ships, ordering the Morning Knight to escort Darrow to the Citadel for custody. The Jackal dismisses the Obsidians, rallies his Boneriders against expected rescues by Telemanuses and Howlers, and stations Lilath with the fleet as insurance.

Finally, the Jackal orders Cassius to neutralize Darrow by removing his sword hand. Despite Mustang’s condemnation and his own shame, Cassius obeys, severing Darrow’s right hand with the superheated slingBlade. The Jackal claims the hand as a trophy and pronounces, "Hic sunt leones," as his warriors echo the motto, cementing their dominance and the plan to deliver Darrow and Mustang to the Citadel.