At dawn, Murtagh avoids the guarded center of Gil’ead and returns by secret tunnel to Carabel’s study in the fortress. Murtagh is anxious about losing Silna, but finds Silna safe, curled against Carabel in cat form. Carabel attempts mental contact, but Murtagh refuses, insisting on spoken words.

Carabel shifts into human form and reveals that Silna is Carabel’s youngest daughter. Carabel explains she hid this fact because names and relationships can be used as weapons. Silna knows only that Arven and Captain Wren were involved in her captivity and that the captors spoke of sending Silna south; neither Silna nor Murtagh knows what happened to the other missing werecat younglings.

Murtagh recounts his recent actions, including taking Glaedr’s scale, killing Muckmaw, infiltrating Wren’s company, and discovering the catacombs’ war room, magical workshop, strange garden, and egg. Carabel identifies the egg as belonging to the Ra’zac and treats it as an ancient wrongness that must be destroyed. Murtagh then shows Carabel the second bird-skull amulet taken from Arven, proving that the threat touches Du Vrangr Gata and making Carabel take the danger more seriously.

Carabel finally gives Murtagh the answers he sought about Bachel and the Dreamers. Werecats have tracked rumors of Dreamers spreading through Alagaësia, dealing with many races and leaving bloodshed behind; five werecats who searched for Bachel never returned. Carabel says ships from Ceunon sail north toward a village near the Spine where the ground smells of rotten eggs and smoke rises from vents, confirming the brimstone clue Murtagh already possessed.

Murtagh argues that Nasuada must be warned, though Carabel says she has not yet informed Nasuada, Eragon, or Arya because whispers are not proof. Murtagh agrees to write a corroborating letter for Carabel’s message, promising that he and Thorn will seek the village and deal with any threat they find. Afterward, Silna briefly takes human form, thanks Murtagh, and kisses his brow, moving him deeply; Carabel names him a friend of the werecats and warns him that Bachel is like a venomous spider at the center of a web.

After leaving the fortress, Murtagh rethinks his plan. Remembering Nasuada’s danger, Murtagh decides that he and Thorn should go to Ilirea first to warn Nasuada in person before pursuing Bachel. Before Murtagh can leave Gil’ead, Lyreth recognizes him in the street and, with pain-deadened former Imperial soldiers around them and city troops nearby, forces Murtagh to accompany him to Lyreth’s house for supposed safety.