The chapter opens from Loth's perspective. Imprisoned at the Priory for months, he has been slowly losing his memories, suspecting his food is drugged. When he glimpses Ead at the ceremony in her red cloak, he recognizes her and resolves to reach her before his memories fade entirely. Though initially stung by betrayal—she was part of this secret sect—he realizes from her shocked expression that she did not know he was there.

Ead confronts Chassar, demanding to know why Loth is at the Priory. Chassar explains that Loth brought the riddlebox given to him by Donmata Marosa, who directed him to find Chassar after meeting Jondu. Chassar admits he deliberately kept Loth's presence hidden from Ead, knowing she would be upset that an outsider who finds the Priory can never leave. Ead protests that Loth has a family and that the Night Hawk would never let him return to court anyway. Chassar warns her against growing attached to followers of the Deceiver—including Sabran—but Ead defends her bonds, arguing Chassar left her alone at the Inysh court for nearly a decade.

Chassar reveals the Prioress's next assignment for Ead: she must travel beyond the Gate of Ungulus into the uncharted Eria to destroy a rumored egg laid by the High Western dragon Valeysa. The journey could take years. Chassar suggests the Prioress chose Ead partly to redirect her loyalty back to the South. He offers an alternative—Ead could bear a child for the Priory, which might spare her—but Ead flatly refuses. She confronts the Prioress directly, pleading not to be sent, but the Prioress insists and threatens to strip Ead's red cloak if she refuses again.

Alone in her room, Ead reflects on the looming crisis. She suddenly realizes that the Cupbearer in Loth's warning from Cárscaro refers to Igrain Crest, whose family crest depicts twin goblets—the symbol of the Knight of Justice. Ead pieces together that Crest may have orchestrated Queen Rosarian's death, installed herself as protector of the young Sabran, and may now control the Queen Tower. Ead recognizes she was blinded by suspicion of Combe and missed the true threat.

Despite knowing she will become anathema to the Priory—her name unsaid, her life forfeit—Ead decides she must return to Inys. She reasons that the waning jewel (sterren) could be the key to finding Ascalon, the only weapon capable of defeating the Nameless One. She prays she is making the right choice. The next morning, she enlists her ichneumon companion Aralaq to help free Loth from the Priory and to locate the white jewel, which the Prioress keeps on her person. Aralaq agrees despite calling Ead a fool, warning she will wither without the orange tree.