Celaena and Chaol encounter the King of Adarlan in a narrow hallway. Celaena is immediately terrified, and the scars on her hand throb as the king studies her with unnerving intensity. Celaena bows to avoid drawing danger to herself, but the king’s stare makes Celaena feel as if he is searching for something changed within her.

As the king passes, Celaena thinks about Cain’s ability to open real portals, the continuing power of Wyrdmarks despite the ban on magic, and the possibility that the king could use that power to summon creatures like the ridderak. The king’s presence reminds Celaena of the black void Cain summoned, giving her the sense that something deathly and otherworldly clings to him.

Celaena wonders why Elena wanted Celaena to get close to the king if the king is connected to such danger. Celaena walks away shaken, and Chaol notices Celaena’s fear but does not question her. Celaena moves closer to Chaol for the rest of the walk, grateful for his silent understanding.

Later, Chaol returns to his room and rereads a report about the king’s journey. Chaol is troubled that the king came back alone and that everyone in the king’s traveling party died. The king’s vague explanation about rebels poisoning food stores seems incomplete, and Chaol worries that the king is hiding the truth even from his Captain of the Guard.

Chaol also reflects on Celaena’s reaction to the king and on how much stronger and faster Celaena has become in training. Chaol admires Celaena and wants Celaena to win because Celaena would not survive another year in Endovier, but Chaol is unsettled by the idea that helping Celaena win could mean retraining and eventually releasing the world’s greatest assassin back into Erilea.

Chaol concludes that something dangerous is brewing around the king’s unexplained journey, and he suspects Celaena senses it too. Still, Chaol decides his immediate priorities are solving the Champions’ murders and ensuring Celaena wins the competition.