Badly wounded by Madoc, Jude forces herself to keep moving while Vivi holds Madoc at arrowpoint. Madoc mocks Vivi and warns that his army is nearby, but Vivi refuses to back down. Taryn reaches Jude with Nightfell and supports her as Jude struggles not to collapse.

Grima Mog confronts Madoc and reveals that she has been hired to protect Jude and her sisters. Madoc tries to recruit Grima Mog with promises of reward and revenge, but Jude undermines the offer by reminding Grima Mog of Madoc’s alliance with the Court of Teeth. Grima Mog chooses to honor her payment and challenges Madoc, who finally retreats, telling Jude she is dying and saying goodbye.

Jude realizes Madoc may be right: if she does not act immediately, she will bleed to death in the snow. Remembering that Cardan, as High King, drew healing power from the land, Jude orders her sisters to pack her wound with earth and leaves and stitch it closed. Taryn is confused when Jude refers to herself as the true queen, and Vivi explains that Jude married Cardan.

Taryn stitches Jude while Grima Mog treats Jude’s command as an order from the High Queen of Elfhame. The attempt works: Jude’s wound closes, her pain lessens, and small white flowers bloom through the snow where her blood has fallen. Grima Mog kneels and acknowledges Jude as queen, proving that the land has accepted Jude’s claim in a way Jude herself had doubted.

Jude immediately focuses on the greater danger. Cardan has taken the poisoned Roach to seek an antidote, but Cardan does not know Madoc sent the Ghost after him. Despite Vivi’s objections and Taryn’s warnings about the stitches, Jude drinks a strengthening draught from Grima Mog, takes Nightfell from Taryn, mounts the ragwort pony, and flies toward the palace while her sisters follow by horse.