Aelin's army reaches Terrasen after six days of relentless travel through the forgotten paths of Oakwald and the Perranth Mountains. Guided by the Lord of the North and the Little Folk, the army avoids sending ruk scouts ahead in order to preserve surprise, abandoning unnecessary supplies and barely resting as the soldiers race toward Orynth.

At dawn, the Lord of the North kneels and offers himself as Aelin's mount. Aelin takes the head of the army in her battle-crown and armor, while the forces divide for the assault: Yrene, Elide, and the healers remain in the rear; Dorian and Chaol lead the wild men on the right; the khaganate royals take the left; Sartaq and Nesryn command the ruks; and Aelin, Rowan, Fenrys, Lorcan, and Gavriel hold the center.

When Aelin crests the final hill, she sees Orynth for the first time in ten years and finds the city engulfed in smoke, terror, and chaos. Morath's army is far larger than she expected, the western gate is nearly breached, and the Ironteeth fill the skies. Yet the Crochans are still fighting at the walls, proving that Manon Blackbeak has kept her vow, and Aelin silently recommits to her own promise to come when called.

With no time for speeches, Aelin orders Lorcan to sound the horn. The khaganate's horns answer across the line, and Aelin raises Goldryn, sending fire through the ruby as the final signal. The Darghan soldiers, Hasar, Kashin, Dorian, Chaol, Rowan, and the rest of the gathered army point their weapons toward Morath and charge downhill behind Aelin and the Lord of the North.

Morath turns to meet the attack, ordering archers to loose iron arrows into the charging cavalry. The ruks dive between the arrows and the army, sacrificing birds and riders to shield the ground assault, while Crochan witches rise from Orynth's walls to strike at the Ironteeth from the opposite side. With magic of wind, flame, and death cutting into Morath's front lines, Aelin's golden army crashes into the enemy like a tidal wave.