Aedion wakes in agony while a healer stitches the wounds to his arm and ribs. After fainting again, he revives with the pain only slightly eased and orders his armor strapped back on, relying on his Fae healing to keep him alive long enough to return to the city walls.

As Aedion climbs through blood and bodies, he thinks briefly of Gavriel and the steadiness the Lion might have offered Terrasen’s soldiers. From the wall, Aedion sees that Orynth still holds, though Valg press the southern and western gates and the witch battle continues above. At the river, Aedion spots Lysandra, bloodied but still fighting in a white beast form along the snowy bank.

Aedion realizes Lysandra is not merely attacking but holding position to warn the city. Morath soldiers are trying to carry longboats to the river and exploit the tunnel route Lysandra used to enter the battlefield; if they reach the grate, Morath could get inside Orynth’s walls. Though dizzy and wounded, Aedion begins issuing orders and signaling Lysandra and the witches.

High above, Manon sees Aedion’s light signal ordering her and the Thirteen back to the walls at once. She hesitates because the Crochans are still holding off the Ironteeth, but Aedion’s repeated signal and the word “River” make the danger clear. Manon sees Morath’s covert move and orders the Thirteen to the walls.

Before Manon can pull Abraxos safely above the fighting, Asterin cries a warning. Iskra Yellowlegs and her massive bull wyvern surge up from below and slam into Abraxos. Abraxos stays airborne despite the attack, but Iskra’s bull closes its jaws around Abraxos’s throat, leaving Manon and the Thirteen in immediate peril.