After speaking with King Markus and being threatened by Fausten, Kel goes to the Black Mansion and tells Andreyen, Merren, and Ji-An what happened. Kel argues that Markus is too governed by prophecy and confusion to be useful, so Kel must reach Prosper Beck directly. Ji-An reveals that Beck’s lieutenant Jerrod Belmerci conducts business at the Yu-Shuang Noodle House, and Andreyen sends Merren with Kel.

On the way to Yulan Road, Kel questions Merren’s loyalty to Andreyen. Merren explains that Artal Gremont is the reason Merren became a poisoner: Merren wants to kill Gremont if he ever returns to Castellane, and Andreyen has helped Merren prepare and hide. Merren refuses to explain more before Kel and Merren enter the noodle shop and find Jerrod seated in the back.

Kel confronts Jerrod about the alley attack, and Jerrod admits that Beck’s men followed Kel from Merren’s flat and mistook Kel for Conor. Jerrod refuses to arrange a meeting with Prosper Beck, insisting Beck does not meet with people. Kel then reveals that he has poisoned Jerrod’s soup with cantarella—and poisoned himself as well—to prove how far Kel is willing to go. With only minutes before the poison becomes fatal, Jerrod agrees to secure Kel a meeting with Beck, and Kel gives both of them antidote.

Outside the noodle house, Merren is furious. Kel, exhilarated and unsteady after surviving the poisoning, kisses Merren, but Merren pushes Kel away and condemns the act as suicidal. Merren explains that Merren’s father killed himself in the Tully, abandoning Merren and Merren’s sister, and accuses Kel of not valuing his own life. Kel realizes afterward that Kel probably owes Merren an apology.

Kel returns to Marivent and finds Conor drunk in the Shining Gallery with Charlon Roverge, Lupin Montfaucon, and Joss Falconet, shooting wine bottles for sport. Kel is angered by Conor’s careless gambling while Conor owes Beck money and by the nobles’ crude dismissal of Antonetta Alleyne, which makes Kel recognize that Antonetta has used the invisibility forced on her to her advantage. Falconet then privately suggests Conor should consider marrying Princess Anjelica Iruvai of Kutani and, when Kel asks about Artal Gremont, reveals that Gremont raped Alys Asper after having her father imprisoned on false charges; Alys’s father then killed himself in the Tully.

Delfina interrupts with a secret note delivered through Palace channels. The note is from Lin, telling Kel to meet her at the gates of the Sault because Kel owes her. The chapter closes with a tale of Queen Adassa of Aram, whose people willingly give up words to strengthen her Source-Stone against invading Sorcerer-Kings.