Ead and Loth infiltrate Ascalon Palace under cover of night. Ead candles two knights-errant guarding the Sanctuary Royal and observes the court at orisons. She notes Sabran's absence and the conspicuous presence of Crest retainers in full livery, confirming that the Duchess of Justice has seized effective control. The Arch Sanctarian announces that Sabran is in confinement due to pregnancy and that the Duchess of Justice tends to her.

Loth finds Margret in Carnelian House. Their reunion is emotional, and Loth reveals the devastating truth: Sabran is not pregnant and can never bear children again, her belly having been pierced during the White Wyrm's attack. Margret realizes Crest's power grab makes sense—she intends to take the throne rather than wait for Sabran to die without an heir. Ead arrives and the three agree they must reach Sabran. They decide to free Captain Lintley of the Knights of the Body, who has been locked in the guardhouse by Crest for demanding access to Sabran.

Ead picks the lock, and Lintley is freed along with three other imprisoned Knights of the Body—Dame Joan Dale, Dame Suzan Thatch, and Sir Marke Birchen. The plan divides: Lintley and the knights will retrieve their weapons from the armory and confront Crest's retainers, while Ead ascends the Queen Tower alone to reach Sabran. Loth and Margret join the knights' party.

Ead climbs the Queen Tower using woodvines. Below, the alarm bell rings after the earlier body is discovered. While Lintley's group battles Crest retainers in the Sundial Garden, Ead hurls Draconic fire into the fight to aid them. Loth rallies the court with a public speech declaring Crest a traitor and urging the people to rise for their queen. Inside the tower, Ead fights through twelve retainers, killing them all.

Ead confronts Lady Igrain Crest directly. Ead accuses her of orchestrating the murder of Queen Rosarian through King Sigoso, and Crest's reaction confirms it. Crest reveals her fanatical belief that, as heir to the Knight of Justice, she has the right—and duty—to judge queens. She declares Sabran barren, bastard-born, and unfit, and claims a Crest should wear the crown. Lintley and the Knights of the Body arrive to arrest Crest for high treason.

Ead reaches the doors of the Great Bedchamber, where she finds Roslain Crest crumpled on the floor with broken fingers, having tried to protect Sabran from her own grandmother. Inside, Sabran is in a wretched state—gaunt, unwashed, shivering, and half-delirious. At first she believes Ead is a dream, but when she recognizes her, she breaks down weeping. Ead wraps her in a coverlet and holds her, promising that she and Loth have returned and that everything will be well.