Bree returns to the Lodge shaken by Sel's confession that Lord Davis may strip his Kingsmage title. Alone in Nick's room, Bree feels responsible for putting Sel's title, humanity, and soul at risk by being at the chapter, and Bree realizes that no one in her life knows enough of the whole truth for her to seek easy comfort.

After falling asleep, Bree wakes to slamming sounds from above and thinks of Sel recovering in his room after destroying part of the forest. While waiting for Nick's return, Bree decides to tell Nick everything, including Patricia's Rootcraft secrets, but Bree also knows Nick's loyalty to Sel will complicate whatever comes next.

Bree then remembers the Wall of Ages and the marked marble representing Lord Davis's Kingsmage. The memory makes Bree realize Sel may be wrong that the Order never strips a Kingsmage of title, so Bree goes to Sel's tower room to confront him despite Sel's attempts to shut Bree out.

In Sel's room, Bree explains that Sel was not the first Merlin Bree met and that Sel's mesmer was not the first one Bree resisted. Bree tells Sel about the hospital, meeting Nick, forcing Nick to name Bree his Page, investigating Faye's death and Bree's own abilities, Ruth's memory, and the scratched Wall of Ages that suggests a previous Kingsmage may have been removed and replaced.

Bree theorizes that a former Kingsmage may have opened the Gate twenty-five years ago, been removed, grown unstable away from Oaths, killed Faye because Faye witnessed something, renewed attacks on the chapter, targeted Nick, and sent hellfoxes after Sel. Sel believes Bree is not lying but challenges the theory: the Regents imprison dangerous Merlins, the timeline around Faye makes little sense, and the Order's silence suggests a possible cover-up but not a complete answer.

Realizing they are missing key pieces, Sel decides they have time if they hurry. Sel rapidly gets ready, opens the tower window, lifts Bree over his shoulder, and jumps out with Bree despite Bree's alarm.