Fourteen months before the Emperor’s murder, Harrowhark Nonagesimus sits in her parents’ study while her cavalier primary, Ortus Nigenad, reads instructions requiring that she travel without retainers, attendants, domestics, Marshal Crux, or Captain Aiglamene. Harrow interprets the restriction as significant: only she and Ortus are to go.

Ortus anxiously admits that he cannot help Harrow become a Lyctor. He insists he is only a cavalier out of duty to his dead father, his mother’s pride, and the Ninth House’s scarcity, and says he cannot represent Harrow in a duel or stand among true cavaliers as an equal. Harrow already knows his weakness with weapons and answers him with contemptuous impatience.

Ortus tries to explain that the Ninth House has produced no worthy swordsman and drifts into the language of his epic poem, The Noniad. Harrow mocks the verse and orders him to train with Captain Aiglamene for twelve weeks so he can at least meet the lowest possible expectations for a Ninth House cavalier.

During the conversation, a serving sister enters, but Harrow sees the dead face of the Body on the sister. Harrow cannot determine whether the woman is real, whether the face is a hallucination, or whether the entire apparition is unreal. Ortus does not acknowledge the figure, increasing Harrow’s uncertainty.

The Body says that this is not how events happen, which strengthens Harrow rather than disorienting her. Harrow finally tells Ortus the real service she needs from him is not skill with a blade but concealment: she needs Ortus to hide her infirmity because she is insane.