The morning after the duel, Dorian meets with the King of Adarlan to learn whether Chaol will be punished for killing Cain. Dorian argues that Chaol acted to defend Celaena after Cain dishonorably attacked her from behind. The king decides not to punish Chaol, valuing him as a capable Captain of the Guard.

Dorian then asks what will happen to Celaena. The king disparages her performance and threatens to send her back to Endovier, provoking Dorian into defending her as a survivor rather than a monster. Dorian realizes too late that his father has detected his attachment to Celaena and can use it against him, though the king only says he will send Celaena her contract when he chooses.

Still angry, Dorian takes a cautious first step against his father's cruelty by warning him that Perrington wants to use Nehemia as a hostage to control the Eyllwe rebels. Dorian argues that such a move would make Nehemia a rallying symbol and could ignite broader rebellion. The king accepts the reasoning and says he will order Perrington to stop.

Later, Celaena wakes badly injured in her rooms, bruised, bandaged, and troubled by nightmares of Nehemia, Elena, demons, and Cain's words. Nehemia visits and admits that she saved Celaena's life during the duel. Nehemia reveals that Kaltain's bloodbane let Celaena see beyond the veil, where Cain's summoned creatures lurked, and that Nehemia's own gifts allow her to see and affect such things.

Nehemia confesses that she has understood the common language all along and pretended otherwise as a defense, though she also wanted Celaena's friendship. Nehemia explains that her family secretly knows how to read and use Wyrdmarks, a dangerous ancient power reserved for grave need. Since arriving in Rifthold, Nehemia has been banishing demons Cain summoned from the Otherworlds, secretly drawing protective marks under Celaena's bed and healing Celaena's bitten hand.

Nehemia explains that she opened a portal to call Elena, who answered Celaena's need and helped save her. Nehemia admits she came to Rifthold to spy on the King of Adarlan and protect Eyllwe, but says she will not draw Celaena into that path yet. Celaena promises to keep Nehemia's powers secret, and Nehemia returns the Eye of Elena, allowing Celaena to fall into her first peaceful sleep in months.