Elide enters Doranelle alone, disguising herself as a frightened, unfashionable mortal girl searching for a lover named Cairn. She studies the city while concealing her limp and fear, using a mirror to observe a square with taverns and soldiers without drawing suspicion.

Elide approaches a group of Fae soldiers and civilians, targeting the apparent commander and the commander’s kind, beautiful sister. Pretending to be a weeping woman named Finnula, Elide asks after Cairn. The soldiers’ reactions confirm that Cairn is known and disliked, while the commander reveals that Maeve is not currently in residence. Elide leaves without learning Cairn’s exact location, but the beautiful woman secretly follows her into an alley.

Meanwhile, Lorcan scouts Maeve’s army outside Doranelle while anxiously waiting for Elide’s return. Rowan, Gavriel, and Lorcan compare what they have learned about the army’s patrols, camps, and possible entry points, but their discussion is overshadowed by fear that Elide has been caught. Elide eventually returns safely and tells them she has met someone.

Elide recounts that the woman, Essar, revealed herself as an ally after showing golden flame and recognizing Lorcan’s shirt and Rowan’s cloak. Essar explains that she once had a relationship with Lorcan and tells Elide that Cairn is in the eastern camp. Essar also confirms Maeve is absent and does not know when Maeve will return. Essar fetches her sister Dresenda, the soldier commander, and the two help Elide plan a dawn opportunity when the eastern camp’s watch will be weakest.

Back with the others, Elide reports that Dresenda can distract guards at dawn, though no one can confirm whether Aelin is in Cairn’s tent or whether Maeve took Aelin elsewhere. Rowan decides the risk is necessary, and the group begins planning an infiltration of the eastern camp. Lorcan insists they all go in and out together, though Rowan later secretly arranges to enter alone while Lorcan and Gavriel wait to create a diversion and Elide remains hidden in the forest.

Before dawn, Rowan waits above the southern entrance to the eastern camp, concealing himself with wind and hoping Aelin is inside. He reflects on the silent mating bond, the possibility that they may be too late, and his determination to punish Cairn. Under the stars, Rowan prays to Mala for Aelin’s survival and resolves that the path he and Aelin walked back to the light will not end here.