Gideon wakes in Harrowhark Nonagesimus’s body after Harrow has been stabbed from behind with her own rapier. Gideon realizes Harrow is gone and that Gideon has been left in control of Harrow’s wounded, exhausted Lyctor body. Gideon forces the blade back out through Harrow’s abdomen, and Harrow’s body immediately heals.

The corridor is overheated, blood-smeared, and under alarm. A Herald appears: a grotesque insectile, bony creature with acid spit, a stinger, wings, and humanlike limbs. Gideon tries to fight with Harrow’s rapier, but Harrow’s body is too weak and unfamiliar, so Gideon retreats toward Harrow’s bedroom.

Inside the bedroom, Gideon finds Gideon’s two-handed sword, though it is badly maintained and damaged. Gideon is angry and hurt as she thinks about Harrow’s choices: Harrow mutilated her own brain rather than accept Gideon’s sacrifice, buried Gideon away, and refused the full bond Gideon had offered. Still, Gideon notices Harrow has developed some calluses and feels a moment of pride.

Using the two-hander, Gideon discovers that Harrow’s Lyctor body can regenerate through the strain and damage of combat. Gideon endures the Herald’s attacks, shatters its stinger, and cuts the creature in half. After the fight, Gideon sees Harrow’s reflection and realizes the body is Harrow’s, but Gideon’s amber eyes and expressions now look out from Harrow’s face.

Gideon tries to provoke Harrow into returning by threatening to say embarrassing and insulting things in Harrow’s voice, but Harrow does not respond. Gideon wonders whether Harrow may be dead. Then Gideon hears more Heralds approaching, accepts that Harrow is not coming back yet, lifts the sword despite Harrow’s burning arms, and prepares to hold them off.