Lysandra fights in ghost leopard form on a freezing, muddy battlefield as Aedion’s army meets the five thousand Morath soldiers sent through Eldrys. Aedion has chosen the field and delayed the attack to gain the best advantage, and the allied lines hold because the Bane are spread through the ranks. Lysandra, armored in plates commissioned by Ren Allsbrook, kills Valg foot soldiers while avoiding thoughts of Aedion’s coldness toward her.

After Morath’s force is destroyed, Aedion gathers Ren, Ravi, and Sol in his war tent to assess losses. Their casualties are lighter than expected, but Aedion understands the victory is only a delaying measure because Erawan has not sent his full strength, his ilken, Ironteeth, Wyrdhounds, or Valg princes. The commanders debate whether to obey Darrow’s expected wishes and return toward Orynth or march south to meet Morath closer to the border and connect with more allies.

Nox Owen arrives with Darrow’s letter ordering Aedion and the army to join him the next day. Nox explains that Darrow prepared messages for either victory or defeat, making clear that Darrow anticipated the outcome and intends to prevent Aedion from independently moving the army south. Aedion accepts the order and says the army will travel at dawn.

Later, Aedion moves through camp to inform Kyllian, stopping to reassure the wounded, praise soldiers, and honor the men who fought. He briefly speaks with Elgan, an older Bane captain and former mentor, before Lysandra intercepts him. Lysandra offers to fly to Darrow with a message arguing that the exhausted army needs rest, revealing that she had listened to the war council while shifted into a small hidden form.

Aedion and Lysandra’s private conflict worsens. Lysandra insists that concealing Aelin’s absence preserves the allies’ morale and says she does not regret acting for Aelin and Terrasen, while Aedion accuses her of blind obedience and lashes out over the deception. When Lysandra tells Aedion that her feelings for him were real, Aedion refuses to hear it and cruelly dismisses her.

Hurt and exhausted, Lysandra returns through the camp to the tent given to her by Sol of Suria. She reflects on how far she has come from her life as a courtesan to being recognized as a lady and fighting beside lords, though Darrow rejects that status. Too tired to remove her boots, Lysandra falls asleep immediately on her cot.