At night in Borosevo, Hadrian climbs to a high garden terrace above the city, where corpse fires burn below and the damaged Obdurate hangs overhead under repair. Alone on the parapet, Hadrian dwells on Uvanari’s screams, the Chantry’s torture, and the moral trap created by Hadrian’s own choices: killing Uvanari may only expose Tanaran or another captive to torment, while doing nothing leaves Uvanari suffering.

Hadrian summons Valka and asks for help. Valka loops the terrace cameras so they can speak privately, and Hadrian explains that Uvanari has asked Hadrian to kill it. Hadrian says he wants to extract something useful, protect the remaining Cielcin, perhaps return them to their people, and begin some form of dialogue that might end the war. Valka agrees to help him, not because she approves in abstract, but “for you.”

Later, Hadrian visits the other captive Cielcin in their communal cell under Inquisitor Agari’s supervision. Hadrian apologizes for their treatment, tries to address Tanaran directly, and repeats the Chantry’s false claim that Uvanari is being well treated. Hadrian reveals that Uvanari named their master, Aeta Aranata, which provokes grief and alarm from the Cielcin. When Hadrian says the rest of the fleet is safe but that the other ships in orbit were destroyed, one captive collapses in grief.

Valka then cuts or disrupts the bastille surveillance, plunging the area into emergency lighting. While Agari is distracted, Hadrian tells Tanaran and the others the truth: Uvanari is being tortured and has asked for mercy-death. Tanaran and Svatarom both hold Hadrian responsible because Hadrian promised the Cielcin safety; Tanaran explains that among the People, one who causes such dishonor must do everything to end it. Hadrian confirms that he intends to kill Uvanari and asks the Cielcin to help during the next blackout.

When the lights and surveillance return, Hadrian resumes questioning Tanaran as if nothing secret has happened. Tanaran explains that baetan means Tanaran belongs specially to Aeta Aranata and carries a piece of Aranata’s authority, not a child. Tanaran also confirms that the Cielcin came to pray to the Watchers, whom Tanaran says made the Cielcin. To distract Agari from the hidden purpose of the visit, Hadrian lies that he learned only that Tanaran is noble, hoping this partial truth will satisfy the Chantry without dooming Tanaran.