Jesiba Roga hustles Ithan out of the bar and into her cluttered office, demanding he explain himself. Ithan admits he wants a necromancer to raise Sigrid Fendyr and confesses his guilt over failing to rescue her, believing Sigrid was meant to reform the wolves and oppose Sabine’s rule.

Jesiba challenges Ithan’s plan as political and short-sighted, warning that necromancers often betray clients. She says she knows one who might be trustworthy, but she will not help for free. Jesiba offers a bargain: Ithan will work as her assistant sorting and cataloging relic shipments, and in return she will arrange to retrieve Sigrid’s body from the Viper Queen and keep it preserved until the necromancer is available.

Meanwhile, Bryce avoids the Autumn King until he blocks her on the stairs and insists on talking. Bryce confronts him about abandoning her at thirteen and hunting her and her mother, demanding to know why he acted cruelly while claiming regret. The Autumn King admits he wonders “every single day” and reveals jealousy of Randall Silago for raising Bryce and ending up with her mother, implying lingering regret and a desire to “move past” the past.

Bryce tries to redirect the conversation toward rescuing Hunt Athalar and Ruhn, only for the Autumn King to reveal they are no longer in the Asteri dungeons because they escaped that morning. Bryce erupts, hurling her plate at him, and the Autumn King responds by threatening Bryce’s family—hinting he could endanger the “adopted son” by informing Rigelus about a rebel boy being harbored—while positioning Bryce’s power as a tool to gain favor and territory.

As Bryce argues he will never truly share power, the Autumn King reveals a critical theory: the Starsword is “Made” and the knife can “Unmake,” and together they might be merged—if fueled by enough power and commanded by their destined wielder—to open a portal to a void he calls “Nowhere,” where no life or light exists. He claims the knowledge comes from the Avallen Archives, which Bryce cannot access because Avallen bars females from key places, including the Cave of Princes and parts of the archives. Overwhelmed and realizing she likely needs help to reach Avallen’s information, Bryce retreats and collapses on Ruhn’s bed.