After the Cielcin ship falls from orbit near Calagah, Hadrian, Valka, Elomas, Karthik, Ada, and the dig team shelter in the seaside cliffs. Shuttles arrive from the sea under cover of an ongoing orbital battle, while other craft race toward the crash site. Soldiers in rust-colored armor disembark to evacuate the archaeologists and technicians.

The soldiers are led by Centurion Vriell, an officer Hadrian remembers from Springdeep. Vriell greets Karthik warmly but refuses to explain the situation to Elomas, saying her orders come from the knight-tribune. Hadrian reasons that Knight-Tribune Raine Smythe has assumed emergency command after the Cielcin attack, bringing Legion and Mataro forces under military control.

As silent explosions mark spacecraft dying overhead, Hadrian asks how far away the Cielcin are and makes clear that the group knows the Pale are involved. Vriell confirms the need for haste and reveals that Jaddian and Legion forces occupy the other fliers. Hadrian then decides he must go with the forces heading toward the crash instead of evacuating to Springdeep.

Vriell refuses, fearing the political consequences if Hadrian is harmed, but Hadrian uses his palatine status and his secret engagement to Anaïs Mataro to force her to hesitate. Hadrian argues that if any Cielcin survived, he can speak to them and perhaps persuade them to surrender. Valka starts to object but falls silent as Hadrian claims he can help.

Hadrian reflects that this moment gives his life a renewed purpose after losing his name, ring, home, and direction. Remembering the long war and the fact that humanity has never seen the Cielcin surrender, Hadrian presses Vriell to let him try to prevent more bloodshed.