Loth and Kit depart the Palace of Salvation in the dead of night. Loth has already contracted the Draconic plague by touching the Flesh King, and he carries both supplies for the mountain journey and the iron box entrusted to him by Donmata Marosa. Kit, despite Loth's protests, insists on accompanying him. They descend through a hidden stair from the Privy Sanctuary into the depths beneath Cárscaro.

At the bottom of the stair, Donmata Marosa awaits them. She explains that this forgotten passage was originally an escape route meant for sieges—the same route she and her mother had planned to use to flee Yscalin. She reveals she once sent one of her ladies through the mountains to get word out, but the woman apparently did not survive due to the Draconic creatures inhabiting the mountain passes. She provides Loth and Kit with ice staves for the mountain terrain and gives Loth the heavy iron box. She asks them not to abandon the task, and Loth promises to send help and to inform the sovereigns of Virtudom about Yscalin's plight. Marosa asks him to give her regards to Sabran and Aubrecht, and they part ways.

Loth and Kit proceed through the dark passage, which is lined with volcanic glass and pumice. Kit tries to keep spirits up with humor, while Loth reflects on his longing to be back in Inys for Sabran's wedding. The tunnel reminds Loth of stories his mother told about the Nameless One tearing through the earth. Suddenly, the ground begins to rumble. What starts as a faint tremor rapidly intensifies into a full earthquake.

The two men run through the darkness. Kit's torch goes out, and he falls behind. As Loth turns back to help, the tunnel's roof collapses. After the quake subsides, Loth desperately digs through the wall of rubble and volcanic glass, bloodying his hands and pounding with his ice staff. He eventually finds Kit's hand and clears enough debris to see his friend's face—but Kit is dead, crushed beneath the fallen rock. Loth, grief-stricken and bleeding, begs Kit's forgiveness.