Nina watches guards drag Inej away but forces herself to keep moving because helping Inej would expose Nina and endanger the mission. Nina discards the conspicuous horsehair cloak from her costume and joins the crowd crossing the glass bridge toward the White Island.

As Nina crosses the dizzying bridge, Nina reflects that the Ice Court may have been created by ancient Grisha craft rather than divine miracle. From the bridge Nina sees the inner wall shaped like a giant ice dragon, then enters the palace through security that appears relaxed but may conceal tighter protection.

Inside the ballroom, Nina sees the party under enormous melting ice wolves while the Elderclock begins to strike ten bells, reminding Nina that she is losing time. Nina spots Kaz and Matthias in drüskelle uniforms in an alcove; Matthias’s uniform unsettles Nina, but Kaz’s presence reassures Nina that the plan is still moving.

Nina goes to an upper balcony to study the crowd and identify who might know Bo Yul-Bayur’s location. After incapacitating a groping man by slowing his heart, Nina returns to the ballroom and chooses a cluster of high-ranking soldiers around a decorated, drunken officer as the best source of information.

Nina stages a collision with a soldier so General Eklund will step in and help her. Eklund responds as Nina hoped and tries to lead Nina away to an upper room, but before Nina can redirect him, Jarl Brum interrupts. Nina is shocked because Nina believed Brum had drowned, and his appearance threatens the mission and Nina’s safety.