Hadrian sits in a Borosevo council meeting still troubled by Uvanari’s words, especially the implication that the Cielcin were searching for someone or something that was “not here.” He wants to speak with Uvanari again, but he avoids mentioning the earlier interrogation in Calagah and withholds his suspicion that the statement may relate to the Quiet until Valka returns.

Knight-Tribune Raine Smythe reports that the Cielcin captain is healing and that ten Cielcin have been taken alive. Hadrian insists they should be called captives rather than prisoners because they surrendered, and argues that an enemy officer should be treated honorably. Grand Prior Ligeia Vas and Chancellor Ogir oppose him, while Sir Olorin defends Hadrian’s usefulness as the only person who has spoken with the captives.

The council debates whether the Cielcin should be preserved as hostages or interrogated for military intelligence. Smythe, Vas, and others focus on the danger of another attack and the value of learning Cielcin fleet movements. Hadrian objects that they are discussing torture, while Lady Kalima also suggests the captives may be more useful unharmed.

Hadrian argues that the crashed Cielcin ship was not an invasion vessel, citing the lack of ship-to-ship armaments and proposing that its escorts were only protecting its approach. He suggests the Cielcin were looking for something and asks for a week to speak with Uvanari peacefully. Count Balian Mataro ends the argument, siding with Smythe and Vas and ordering that the enemy be questioned.

Smythe decides that most of the captives will be held gently in the bastille, while Uvanari will be isolated and handed to the Chantry for interrogation, with the Jaddians present to share intelligence. Hadrian realizes this will break the promise of safety he made to the surrendered Cielcin. When Vas states that a translator will be needed, Hadrian refuses, but the council makes clear he has no choice; Vas turns Hadrian’s own desire to speak with the Cielcin against him.