After Brullo releases the Champions for lunch, Celaena eats ravenously in her rooms while Chaol joins her. Their usual insults soften into an unexpected conversation about books, and an hour passes easily before Chaol leaves her free for the afternoon. Celaena takes a bath and looks forward to reading, enjoying the limited comforts of her temporary freedom.

The next dawn, Chaol finds Celaena already exercising, doing pull-ups from the beam of her bedroom doorway. Although Celaena intends to appear average among the competitors, the previous day’s poor showing has driven her to sharpen her strength in private. Chaol notices her effort and, to Celaena’s surprise, smiles.

Later, during a rainstorm, Chaol escorts Celaena through the castle after training. They encounter Kaltain Rompier, an anxious councilman, and Princess Nehemia Ytger of Eyllwe. Celaena recognizes Nehemia’s reputation from the Eyllwe slaves in Endovier and surprises everyone by greeting the princess in fluent Eyllwe. Nehemia immediately proves sharp, proud, and openly unimpressed with the glass castle and with Kaltain.

When Kaltain condescendingly corrects Nehemia’s language, Celaena snaps at her, and Chaol steps between the women before the conflict escalates. After Nehemia requests that Kaltain be dismissed, Celaena translates the command bluntly and Chaol supports it. As Chaol escorts Nehemia toward the council, Celaena and Nehemia speak privately in Eyllwe about slavery, Adarlan’s destruction of Eyllwe’s books and institutions, Nehemia’s official reason for visiting Rifthold, and the possibility that Nehemia may be married to an Adarlanian man. Nehemia notices Celaena’s differences from court ladies, while Celaena notices the calluses on Nehemia’s hands and suspects the rumors about Nehemia’s connection to rebels may be true.

Before entering the council chamber, Nehemia asks Celaena to keep her company because she wants someone to talk to, not merely attendants. Celaena, who has distrusted powerful girls since painful past experiences, is unexpectedly honored and wonders if she may have been wrong to close herself off. Later, from Chaol’s point of view, Chaol watches Celaena at lunch and reflects on his unease: the king has left without the guards Chaol recommended and without saying where he is going, royal hounds have been found half-eaten in the northern wing, and Celaena’s charm and kindness clash with the deadly darkness Chaol believes she is hiding.