After Captain Wren accepts him into the guard under the false name Task Ivorsson, Murtagh leaves the tower with Esvar. Esvar warns him not to ask about Wren’s hands and explains that Wren commands this half of the guard compound, while a rival captain, Irven, controls the other half. Murtagh misses Thorn but avoids mental contact inside Gil’ead for fear that someone might detect him.

In the barracks, Esvar introduces Murtagh to the guards and shows him an empty cot near the rear archway leading to the catacombs. Murtagh identifies the stairs as the route he must take to find Silna, but learns the catacombs are used for storage, meetings, and guarded watches, making his rescue plan harder. Esvar then takes Murtagh to be issued a red tabard, cloak, mail, sword, spear, and shield; during the tour, Esvar mentions that Morzan died just beyond the fortress wall, forcing Murtagh to confront his father’s death and Brom’s role in it.

At the midday meal, Esvar questions Murtagh about the Burning Plains, Ilirea, Eragon, and Saphira, while Gert eventually tells Esvar to stop pestering him. Murtagh overhears guards speculating about Nasuada’s need to marry and produce an heir, and the thought fills him with anger and helplessness. He recognizes the political truth of their comments but hopes that working from the shadows might help stabilize Alagaësia and give Nasuada time.

During afternoon drills and chores, Murtagh unexpectedly feels the appeal of belonging to a disciplined group and briefly regrets that he cannot stay. That regret turns bitter when he remembers he intends to break his oath and betray the company to rescue Silna. Evidence of a prepared wagon and saddled horses confirms that Wren may be planning something soon, and when Gert announces that Lord Relgin wants to see the killer of Muckmaw in the morning, Murtagh realizes he must act that very night or risk exposure.

Before the gate closes, Murtagh slips into Gil’ead and contacts Thorn from the edge of a barley field. Murtagh shares his frustrations, his conflicted feelings about Wren’s guard, his unease near Morzan’s death site, and his distress over Nasuada; Thorn comforts him and questions Wren’s hidden intentions, especially the magical wooden masks. Back in the barracks, Esvar shyly welcomes Murtagh and offers comradeship, deepening Murtagh’s guilt. After lights out, Murtagh lies awake, waiting for the safest hour to enter the catacombs, whispers forgiveness, and sees drowned bones in his memory.