Dorian flies to the head of the khaganate army, amazed to find the foreign force marching north with foot soldiers, Darghan cavalry, and ruks. When he lands at a crossroads, Aelin, Rowan, Elide, and the others ride to meet him. Aelin immediately senses the burden Dorian carries and asks where Manon is; Dorian says Manon is likely in Terrasen with the Crochans if their plan succeeded.

Chaol arrives with Yrene, and Chaol and Dorian break down as they reunite. Chaol introduces Yrene as the healer responsible for his recovery, the arrival of the army, and as his wife. Dorian welcomes Yrene warmly, and Yrene reveals that she is pregnant, making Dorian an uncle.

The reunion turns grave when Dorian tells Aelin and the others that Dorian retrieved the third Wyrdkey from Morath. Dorian explains that Maeve was there, that Maeve and Erawan survived Morath’s collapse, and that the destruction likely only enraged them. The group also learns that Maeve, stripped of her Fae throne, has effectively joined Erawan as a Valg queen, while the Ironteeth host Dorian saw after leaving Morath has not yet fully reached Orynth.

Aelin presents the group with two choices: continue north to Terrasen and try to fight Morath’s overwhelming army before closing the Wyrdgate, or forge the Lock immediately and remove Erawan from play before Erawan or Maeve can reclaim the keys. Dorian insists the choice also belongs to him because the same debt and bloodline bind Dorian to the keys, but Aelin refuses to discuss who will pay the cost and insists everyone should vote.

The debate exposes the impossible stakes. Some argue Aelin’s fire is needed at Orynth, while others hope Erawan’s removal might collapse Morath’s forces. Yrene asks whether the gods’ departure will affect her healing power and volunteers to help destroy Erawan, but Aelin rejects risking Yrene and her unborn child on uncertain possibilities. Rowan proposes hiding the keys again and refuses to accept any option that sacrifices Aelin, but Aelin demands an immediate decision.

Hasar votes to forge the Lock now, and Dorian does the same. The other rulers and allies give their votes, and Rowan is left for last. Rowan votes no—neither now nor ever—but the decision has already been made. Chaol and Dorian state that at dawn the Lock will be forged and the keys returned to the gate; when Elide asks Aelin for her vote, Aelin says it does not matter.