After Rowan swears the blood oath, Rowan interprets service to Aelin as a right to argue over Aelin’s safety and plans. During their two-week journey to a Wendlyn port, Rowan repeatedly objects to Aelin’s decision to return to Adarlan alone, warning that Celaena Sardothien will be hunted because Celaena failed the king’s mission.

Aelin insists that stealth is Aelin’s best chance. Aelin plans to return as Celaena, retrieve the Wyrdkey from Arobynn, find Chaol, and then go north. Aelin explains that Rowan would be too conspicuous in Adarlan and that, with magic gone there, Rowan’s animal form would be a trap rather than an advantage.

Rowan urges Aelin to go instead to Varese and seek help from Aelin’s Ashryver kin, but Aelin refuses. Aelin declares that Aelin will gather the rest of Aelin’s court, raise a vast army, call in every debt owed to Celaena and to Aelin’s bloodline, and eventually challenge the powers that destroyed Terrasen.

Before Aelin leaves, Aelin asks what Rowan prayed to Mala for before they faced Maeve. Rowan says Rowan asked Mala to help Aelin survive and admits the second prayer was a selfish hope that has now come true: Rowan and Aelin are bound together. Their farewell confirms Rowan as the first member of Aelin’s future court.

Aelin boards the ship at night and sails away from Wendlyn. After the passengers are allowed back onto the deck, Rowan, in hawk form, brushes Aelin’s cheek in farewell before turning back. Alone beneath the stars, Aelin renews Aelin’s promise to Nehemia and commits to retrieving the Wyrdkeys, restoring magic, destroying the king, saving Aelin’s people, and no longer fearing Aelin’s identity as Queen of Terrasen.