Over the next day, Inej watches Kaz arrange pieces of the Ice Court scheme while revealing only fragments of his full plan. Inej doubts that a crew of criminals can infiltrate a fortress built to resist armies, Grisha, spies, and assassins, but Kaz insists that the job requires thieves rather than soldiers. When Inej challenges Kaz's confidence, Kaz coldly says he needs Inej's skills, not Inej herself, and Inej leaves angry, deciding Kaz owes Inej an apology before Inej boards the ship.

As Inej heads through Ketterdam before dawn, Inej considers abandoning Kerch, searching for Inej's family, and leaving the Dregs behind once the heist payout can buy Inej's freedom. Memories of Inej's Suli parents and their sayings about love and purpose deepen Inej's uncertainty about what Inej truly wants. Exhausted from gathering supplies Kaz requested, including paraffin and snow goggles, Inej chooses the direct route through West Stave instead of traveling by rooftops.

Passing the Menagerie alone forces Inej to face the brothel where Inej was enslaved by Tante Heleen. Inej studies the building as Kaz might, focusing on entrances, exits, locks, guards, and vulnerabilities, which helps Inej reclaim a sense of power. After making it past the House of Exotics, Inej feels that if Inej can face West Stave alone, Inej can face Fjerda.

That confidence is immediately shaken when Tante Heleen grabs Inej and calls Inej by the old Menagerie name, “little lynx.” With Cobbet blocking Inej's escape, Heleen threatens that Inej will someday wear Heleen's silks again and reminds Inej of the control Heleen once had. Inej freezes in terror, then escapes into the crowd after Heleen releases Inej, drawing comfort from Inej's hidden knives and prayers to the Saints while reminding herself that Inej is now the Wraith and no longer Heleen's property.

Inej reaches the harbor, where bribed officials and the quiet Tidemaker towers should allow the crew to depart unnoticed. Near Fifth Harbor, Inej sees Kaz and the others waiting in sailor disguises beside the schooner Ferolind, which is meant to pass as a Kerch trapping vessel bound north. But Inej notices that the extra Dregs sailors are missing, then stumbles over Dirix, dead with a knife in Dirix's abdomen. Inej shouts for Kaz, but the warning comes too late: the schooner explodes, throwing Inej down and setting the docks aflame.