Murtagh and Uvek reach the temple’s inner sanctum expecting Bachel, but find Grieve and seven armored acolytes instead. Grieve says Bachel has Alín, then tries to use a vial of Azlagûr’s Breath, but Murtagh anticipates the move and magically catches the vial before it shatters.

The acolytes attack, and Murtagh and Uvek fight side by side. Uvek’s strength and Murtagh’s skill quickly reduce the enemy numbers, but Grieve joins the battle with surprising power, mental pressure, and wards strong enough to resist both weapons and Murtagh’s spell. Uvek upends the central brazier to crush one acolyte, and Murtagh kills the last, leaving Grieve alone.

When Grieve begins invoking Azlagûr, Uvek interrupts him, but Grieve’s protections hold. Realizing brute force is needed to exhaust the wards, Murtagh retrieves Zar’roc, his armor, and the ancient language compendium from Bachel’s storage chest. Murtagh ignites Zar’roc with magic and presses the burning blade against Grieve’s ward while Uvek pins Grieve’s club and batters him, finally collapsing the protection. Zar’roc cuts through Grieve, though Murtagh’s follow-through accidentally severs the tip of Uvek’s horn and wounds his shoulder.

After Grieve dies, Uvek refuses healing and takes satisfaction that Kiskû has been avenged. Murtagh equips himself, recovers the compendium, and briefly questions Uvek about the word shagvrek, which Uvek describes as an ancient hornless people. Outside, Thorn continues destroying Nal Gorgoth, and Uvek leaves to find and help other Urgals, whether prisoners or Draumar.

Alone, Murtagh searches mentally for Bachel and finds her deep under the village among other minds. Although Murtagh considers leaving to seek reinforcements, his promise to Alín and the danger of letting Bachel escape drive him onward. After a tense exchange with Thorn about fear and duty, Murtagh fights through Draumar near the grove, uses the compendium to craft a ward against the Breath, and enters the cave tunnels to confront Bachel.