Chaol Westfall stands on deck as the khagan’s fleet sails north through winter seas. Half the armada follows him, with the rest still gathering in the southern continent, but Chaol fears even this force may arrive too late or prove insufficient against Morath. He and Yrene share a tender moment, but his thoughts remain on the danger of their life-bond: if he dies, Yrene dies too.

Chaol explains that Nesryn and Sartaq are about to scout ahead with their ruks to determine where the fleet can safely land. They need information because Rifthold may still be held by Erawan, Maeve’s fleet remains missing, and secrecy has kept Chaol from learning Dorian’s whereabouts. Yrene worries that war is approaching too quickly, while Chaol reminds her that the coming days will only grow harder.

Nesryn and Sartaq fly through the cloud cover with Falkan, who has taken falcon form to scout ahead. As they near Fenharrow’s coast, Nesryn reflects on Sartaq being named Heir to the khaganate and on the future he expects them to share. She also considers the crucial knowledge gained in the southern continent: Maeve is not Fae but an ancient Valg queen hiding from the Valg kings.

Falkan leads Nesryn and Sartaq over the white cliffs and burned plains of northern Fenharrow. They see razed villages, dead trees, smoke, and no sign of battle, indicating Morath’s forces destroyed the land deliberately. Farther inland, they discover a vast black army marching, along with a small detachment of soldiers likely hunting survivors. Nesryn and Sartaq choose to attack the six soldiers rather than return immediately to the ships.

Later, Yrene inventories medical supplies aboard Hasar’s ship. Hafiza gently tells her the supplies are already counted and that, once battle begins, they will not be able to save everyone. Yrene admits she needs to be doing something, but after Hafiza leaves, Yrene silently hides a deeper worry: she is unsure how much longer she will be able to help, and her hand rests on her abdomen.