Inej remains detained with other embassy guests near the entry, waiting to be taken through the ringwall gate to have their identities cleared. As time passes and the three-quarters chime sounds, Inej realizes she can no longer wait for the plan to resume on its own. She deliberately provokes a guard, hoping to force movement toward the gate.

Before the guard can escort Inej away, Tante Heleen pushes through the crowd. Heleen recognizes Inej despite her disguise and publicly identifies Inej as the Wraith, Kaz Brekker’s right hand and a notorious Ketterdam criminal. Heleen also demands to know where Adjala is, causing Inej to freeze under the force of old fear and trauma.

When Heleen grabs and shakes Inej, Inej’s terror turns into resistance. Inej twists Heleen’s wrist, seizes Heleen by the throat, and snarls that she threw Heleen’s girl into the ice moat. Guards pull Inej away before she can do more, and Inej realizes she could have killed Heleen.

Heleen warns the guards that if Inej is present, Kaz Brekker must be there as well. At that moment, the bells of Black Protocol begin sounding, throwing the Ice Court into emergency lockdown. Guards and commanders mobilize, and a guard captain questions Inej about her team and target, but Inej refuses to speak.

With the bridge closed and the island sealed, the guards drag Inej out through the courtyard and past the ringwall gate without further pretense of courtesy. As the gate lowers behind them, Heleen taunts Inej that she will hang in the Menagerie’s silks.