After the failed Sardovian attack, Talasyn recovers enough to form a plan. She intends to learn where Hiras and the other captured rebels are being held, gather details about security, then return to Nenavar to coordinate a rescue with Vela. Because Gaheris's destruction of the Chiton proved how dangerous the Shadowgate can be, Talasyn also resolves to keep communing with the Light Sever and strengthen her aethermancy.

Talasyn then has to endure her coronation gala in a replacement ice-blue dress. The Kesathese officers celebrate the defense of the plaza, praise Gaheris and Alaric, and toast the Chiton's destruction, while Talasyn is sickened by their cheerfulness so soon after mass death. Her thoughts turn to Sol and to Khaede, whose fate remains unknown, making Khaede feel to Talasyn like an unfinished story rather than another casualty.

During the banquet, Talasyn notices that Darius and the officers now seem to treat her as an ally because the Sardovians attacked her and she killed some of them. Commodore Mathire praises the possibility of shadow and light working together, but Alaric sharply tells Mathire to leave Talasyn in peace. Before Talasyn can make sense of Alaric's anger, a Shadowforged legionnaire summons Alaric to Gaheris, and Talasyn lets Alaric go while inwardly seeing his absence as a chance to gather information.

The scene shifts to Gaheris's private hall, where Alaric kneels before his weakened father. Gaheris says the attack means either Ideth Vela is alive on the Continent or someone else now leads a serious insurgency, then condemns Alaric as incompetent for needing Talasyn's help in battle. Alaric argues that Talasyn's choice to save him and kill former comrades suggests she may no longer be loyal to the Allfold.

Alaric tries to use that argument to suggest ending the sariman experiments, but Gaheris reacts with rage. Gaheris accuses Alaric of forgetting Kesath's history with light magic and of trusting a Lightweaver despite the Dragon Queen's threat. As punishment, Gaheris orders Alaric to stand and attacks him with Shadowgate, deliberately humiliating him by keeping him from the public celebration.

While enduring the torture, Alaric retreats mentally to the memory of Talasyn's gentleness. Under the pressure of pain, Alaric unexpectedly seizes control of Gaheris's shadows and turns them back toward the throne, though Gaheris shields himself. Rather than fear this defiance, Gaheris is delighted, claiming pain has revealed Alaric's raw power; he renews the attack so Alaric can be forced to become worthy of Kesath's legacy.