Over four days, Celaena secretly intensifies her training before dawn in her rooms, using furniture and billiards equipment to rebuild strength. Chaol continues running with her and training her privately, noticing but not commenting as Celaena improves. In public lessons, Celaena deliberately keeps her skill hidden while Cain receives Brullo’s praise and the other Champions’ respect, which frustrates Celaena and reminds her of how she once dominated attention at the Assassins’ Keep.

The day before the first Test, Chaol does not appear for breakfast or lunch, and Celaena notices unusual tension in the training hall: Brullo is absent, guards are everywhere, and the Champions are whispering. Nox Owen introduces himself, and Pelor reveals that Bill Chastain, the Eye Eater, has been found brutally murdered, apparently ripped open. The news unsettles Celaena, who wonders how anyone could kill a Champion inside the guarded castle and whether more deaths will follow.

Celaena distracts herself by practicing throwing knives near Nox. Verin and Cain mock her with crude insults, but Nox quietly defends her. Celaena reveals far more skill than she intends by landing repeated perfect throws, then teaches Nox how to improve his stance, wrist, and timing. Their exchange becomes cautiously friendly, and Nox admits he expects Celaena to win the competition.

Later, Chaol unexpectedly visits Celaena on her balcony while she reads. Although Celaena asks about Chastain’s murder, Chaol refuses to share details and instead talks about his exhausting day and his past with Dorian. Chaol explains that he and Dorian grew up together, but Chaol’s father sent him back to Anielle to prepare for politics; Chaol later gave up his title as Lord of Anielle to become Captain of the Guard’s apprentice.

Chaol then asks about Celaena’s own past. Celaena admits only that her parents died when she was eight, that she was born in Terrasen, became an assassin, was sent to Endovier, and is now in Rifthold. When Chaol asks about the scar on Celaena’s right hand, Celaena explains that Arobynn Hamel forced her to break her own hand as a training method so she would become proficient with her left. The conversation leaves Celaena reflecting on how she and Chaol come from different worlds yet share painful choices and discipline, while the first Test approaches.