After reaching Anielle, Aelin learns that a ruk scout had found their ship in the fog and reported that the khagan’s army had marched there. Aelin intends to use the crisis at Anielle to persuade the southern royals to send their forces north to Terrasen afterward, even if the detour delays Aelin’s own return home.

In the royals’ war tent, Aelin takes in the scale of the khagan’s forces: disciplined infantry, Darghan cavalry, and armored ruks with their riders. Aelin asks where the army will go after Anielle, and Princess Hasar immediately recognizes Aelin’s attempt to maneuver them toward Terrasen. Prince Sartaq says the decision will wait until Anielle is secure, while Hasar points out that Terrasen has not formally called for aid. Chaol urges Aelin to focus on winning the present battle first.

The council turns to strategy. Chaol explains that Morath has breached Anielle’s walls once already and may soon batter down more defenses. Nesryn proposes driving Morath’s army toward the Silver Lake, but Yrene and Hasar warn that the cold water may not harm Valg soldiers and could endanger their own troops. Hasar favors crushing Morath against the city walls instead, and Aelin agrees with the logic.

Borte then bursts into the tent with Falkan, who has unexpectedly regained his youth. Falkan recognizes Aelin as the assassin from the Xandrian market who once stole horses and received Spidersilk from him; Aelin recognizes him as the merchant who had sold his youth to a stygian spider. Nesryn reveals that Falkan is Lysandra’s uncle, startling Aelin, and Aelin tells him that Lysandra is her friend and the Lady of Caraverre but is currently in the North.

The introduction briefly lightens the room as Borte marvels at the Fae warriors, Fenrys shifts into a white wolf, and Falkan realizes Aelin is the queen. The mood shifts when Falkan asks whether Aelin and her companions know the truth. Nesryn explains that the stygian spiders and their kin, the kharankui, are Valg creatures that entered the world through a temporary crack between realms and feed on dreams, years, and life.

Rowan and Lorcan press the war implications, especially whether the spiders might join Erawan. Nesryn delivers the more alarming answer: the spiders do not serve Erawan but the only Valg queen, Maeve. The revelation links Maeve to another dangerous Valg force and deepens the threat facing Aelin and her allies.