After a grueling morning of kitchen work at Mistward, Celaena is summoned by Rowan. Emrys and Luca fall silent at Rowan’s arrival, and Luca silently wishes Celaena luck as Rowan leads Celaena out through the warded megaliths, into the forest, and up to the ruins of an old temple overlooking Wendlyn and the Cambrian Mountains.

At the ruins, Rowan strips away Celaena’s false bravado by ordering Celaena to stop pretending and shift into her Fae form. Celaena says Celaena cannot control the shift, but Rowan refuses excuses. When Celaena refuses again, Rowan attacks, quickly outmatching Celaena despite her attempt to dodge him.

Rowan pins Celaena, demands that Celaena shift, and provokes Celaena by calling Celaena spoiled, undisciplined, and a coward who has run while others suffered. His words trigger memories of Nehemia’s mutilated body, Galan Ashryver riding away, and Chaol’s role in Celaena’s grief. Celaena emotionally shuts down, unable to summon the power or rage Rowan is trying to force from Celaena.

Instead of returning to Mistward, Rowan takes the injured and exhausted Celaena to a field of ancient barrows inhabited by wights. Rowan offers a bargain: if Celaena can cross the field and face the wights, Rowan will take Celaena to Doranelle whenever Celaena wishes. Though Celaena recognizes the offer as a trap exploiting Celaena’s impatience and mortality, Celaena chooses to enter the dead field rather than run.