At Serinhall, Lord Arteloth Beck works late in his study, managing household expenses and responsibilities as future Earl of Goldenbirch. Though he loves Serinhall, his heart lies at court with Queen Sabran. His sister Margret joins him with hot wine and observes that their mother inadvertently made each of them fall in love with the wrong place—Margret with Serinhall and Loth with court. She hints that Inys is changing and that they should broaden their horizons. Before leaving, she gives him a letter sealed with the pear of the House of Vetalda. Reading it stirs memories of scents from his time abroad—salt, tar, mulled wine, and lavender—and he begins writing a reply, suggesting a new romantic connection with someone from Yscalin.

Meanwhile, at Briar House, Ead and Sabran share a quiet evening by the fire. Ead reveals that her sand eagle Sarsun brought a letter from Chassar: the Red Damsels of the Priory want Ead to return to Lasia and become the new Prioress. Chassar expresses pride in Ead's deeds and guilt for failing to protect her when Mita was sent to silence her. Ead explains that accepting would allow her to shape the Priory's future, direct the hunting of remaining wyverns—including the still-at-large Fýredel—and ensure the Red Damsels protect the stability of the post-Nameless One world.

Sabran supports Ead's decision but the prospect of separation weighs heavily on both. Ead acknowledges she cannot be princess consort; her loyalty belongs to the Mother and the Priory. Sabran then shares her own plan: within a decade, she intends to abdicate the throne. She will fulfill her promise to Kagudo by telling her people the truth about Galian and Cleolind, launching a Great Reformation of Virtudom. She envisions transitioning power to one of the Dukes Spiritual and ultimately reforming the hereditary succession system, arguing that a woman is more than a vessel for heirs.

Ead reflects on having buried Kalyba's body beneath the felled hawthorn tree on Nurtha, the witch's original home. She notes that the only remaining Firstblood now lives in Sabran and Tané. In a tender moment, Sabran proposes an ancient Inyscan trothplight—a promise to reunite and build a life together. She asks Ead to meet her on the sand of Perchling in ten years, after both have fulfilled their duties. Ead accepts with a kiss, vowing "ten years, and not one sunrise more."