The three Ironteeth High Witches arrive alone at the Crochan camp, landing their wyverns near Glennis’s fire and crushing tents beneath them. Manon realizes they may have tracked her there, and the Crochans’ hostility suggests they blame her for bringing danger to the camp. Dorian reaches Manon, but Manon warns Dorian and the others not to intervene because this confrontation belongs to the witches.

Glennis faces the Matrons with an ancient sword, but her attention fixes on the Yellowlegs Matron, who wears Rhiannon Crochan’s crown of stars as an insult. Manon’s grandmother accuses Manon of spreading lies and trying to turn Ironteeth forces against the Matrons. Manon counters that the Matrons came alone because they fear losing the power the witches have given them, then challenges the Yellowlegs Matron’s right to the stolen crown.

Manon steps over the line she draws in the snow and fights all three Matrons at once. From Dorian’s perspective, Manon moves with terrifying speed and discipline, holding the line despite wounds and despite having nearly died facing her grandmother before. When Manon’s grandmother mocks Manon’s parents, Manon accepts Bronwen’s thrown sword and invokes Rhiannon Crochan’s three-day stand, declaring that she will finish what began then.

The Yellowlegs Matron drives Manon backward, but Manon deliberately offers an opening and uses the crone’s bloodlust against her. When the Yellowlegs Matron lunges for the killing blow, Manon twists aside and beheads her with Wind-Cleaver. Manon takes Rhiannon’s crown from the severed head and sets it on her own brow; the crown awakens with starlight, the sacred fire flares, and the Thirteen salute Manon as the Crochan Queen restored.

Manon spares Cresseida Blueblood, sending Cresseida away with the message that Petrah may decide Cresseida’s fate and that all debts between Manon and Petrah are paid. Left alone with her grandmother, Manon advances and considers giving Asterin the death owed for the Matron’s crimes, but the Blackbeak Matron flees to her wyvern. Manon orders the others to let her go.

After the Matrons depart, Manon returns Bronwen’s sword and tries to give the crown to Glennis, saying it belongs to her. Glennis rejects that claim, places the crown back on Manon’s head, kneels, and hails Manon Crochan as Queen of Witches. The Crochans, the Thirteen, and Dorian witness Crochan and Blackbeak kneel together and proclaim Manon queen as one people.