After killing Muckmaw, Murtagh and Thorn circle Gil’ead and discuss why Thorn could not eat the enchanted fish: witnesses would spread word of Thorn, and Durza’s magic might have tainted the creature. They land outside the city, where Murtagh scrubs himself clean and wants to go directly to Captain Wren’s garrison, but Thorn insists that Murtagh sleep because exhaustion could endanger Silna’s rescue.

That night, Murtagh and Thorn perform their ritual of speaking their true names. Thorn speaks his easily, but Murtagh discovers that his own has changed. By examining his reluctance, Murtagh realizes that Glaedr’s death, the battle for Gil’ead, and the lives lost there have deepened his remorse and shame, even though Galbatorix’s oaths controlled him at the time. He accepts that the consequences remain real, and this guilt alters his sense of self.

Murtagh wakes from a nightmare of drowned soldiers accusing and dragging him down. He is feverish and sore, but refuses to abandon Silna or lose Carabel’s possible path to Bachel. Thorn urges Murtagh to try magic, and Murtagh casts a general healing spell. The spell eases Murtagh’s fever, throat, bruises, and soreness, proving more effective than Murtagh expected.

At dawn, Murtagh prepares to approach Gil’ead alone, leaving Thorn hidden despite Thorn’s frustration. To conserve strength, Murtagh uses magic to float Muckmaw’s severed head across the countryside, then switches to dragging it as he enters the city unseen. He steals a small cart, hides the head under his ruined cloak, and notices that soldiers and elves are on alert near the fortress, likely because of Murtagh’s earlier theft from Oromis and Glaedr’s barrow.

Murtagh reaches the city guard barracks and reveals Muckmaw’s head to the pikemen at the gate, claiming he wants to join Captain Wren’s company. The guards are impressed despite Wren’s standing orders against green recruits, and they summon Gert, the company’s veteran weapons instructor. Gert tests Murtagh first with a spear, where Murtagh performs adequately, then with wooden swords, where Murtagh’s superior training quickly shows.

Murtagh defeats Gert with controlled but remarkable speed, nearly exposing how far beyond an ordinary recruit he is. The watching guards cheer, and Gert recognizes that Murtagh has had an exceptional teacher. Gert dismisses the onlookers and decides that Captain Wren must see Murtagh after all, bringing Murtagh one step closer to infiltrating the garrison and finding Silna.