Jude rises after her release from the Undersea, physically weak and still shaken by the sea. She thinks about Dulcamara’s claim that Cardan refused to retaliate in order to secure Jude’s return, a choice Jude cannot reconcile with Cardan’s usual self-interest. Jude decides she must reach Cardan to warn him about the Ghost’s betrayal, Grimsen’s crown-making, and Balekin’s plan to force Jude to murder Cardan.

Jude walks to the palace despite her exhaustion, but the guards stop her at the gate. Diarmad tells Jude that Madoc has barred Jude from the palace and ordered a carriage for Jude if Jude arrives. Jude realizes Cardan has not directly disobeyed Jude’s command never to deny her an audience; instead, Madoc has maneuvered around Jude’s control. This makes Jude fear that Madoc, Cardan, or both have cut Jude out of power, and that Cardan is becoming High King in truth without Jude.

Unable to reach Cardan, Jude goes to an entrance to the Court of Shadows, hoping to find the Roach and the Bomb and learn what happened. Jude discovers the entrance has been destroyed by an explosion and fears the Ghost has betrayed the Court of Shadows as well. With no way to reach Jude’s allies, Jude becomes even more isolated.

Jude next appeals to Val Moren in the gardens, asking Val Moren to help Jude get inside the palace. Val Moren instead speaks of the Folk, of Eldred, and of the dangerous bargain Val Moren made when Val Moren chose Eldred and Faerie over humanity. Val Moren explains that Val Moren promised never to choose a mortal over a faerie, and therefore cannot help Jude, even though Eldred is dead.

With no other reliable path to the palace, Jude decides to go to Hollow Hall because Balekin has a reason to help Jude reach Cardan. The walk takes Jude near the sea, worsening Jude’s new fear of waves, and Jude pauses at the Lake of Masks before continuing. At Hollow Hall, Jude finds Balekin alone in his diminished house, marked by the red moths of the Undersea.

Balekin tells Jude there will be a masquerade the next day and promises to get Jude inside if Jude can escape Madoc and disguise herself. Balekin gives Jude a vial of poison and instructs Jude to put it in Cardan’s wine when Jude has a private moment. Under Balekin’s attempted glamour, Jude lies convincingly, declaring herself Balekin’s creature while secretly maintaining Jude’s own purpose.