The morning after Asterin challenged Manon over the Yellowlegs coven, Manon beats Asterin in the breakfast hall. Asterin takes three unblocked blows without flinching, then walks away, leaving the rest of the Thirteen uneasy and Manon shaken. Manon keeps thinking of Elide's accusation that she allowed the duke's abuses to happen.

Manon arrives late to Duke Perrington's council chamber, where Vernon and Kaltain are present. The duke demands another coven for his men, this time a Blackbeak coven. Manon resists by saying the witches are not whores, but the duke calls them sacred vessels and threatens to choose a coven himself if Manon does not act quickly.

The duke then orders Manon and the Thirteen on a mission. Manon flies Abraxos through a storm with Kaltain strapped before her, while Perrington rides with Sorrel and soldiers accompany the coven. Manon recognizes the terrain of the White Fangs, which she has helped scout, and understands the coming attack will fall on wild tribes and possible rebels.

When the riders reach a hidden mountain village, Perrington orders Kaltain to burn the houses from the air. Kaltain unleashes shadowfire on a woman, then on tents, horses, and villagers, causing screams and chaos below. Manon sees the destruction and again thinks that she helped make it possible.

Kaltain is weakened after using the shadowfire, and Manon briefly considers killing her, but too many witnesses and the threat of retaliation against the Thirteen stop her. Perrington orders Manon to land and finish the attack. Abraxos descends slowly, seemingly resisting, but Manon forces the landing, draws Wind-Cleaver, and advances with the Thirteen as the terrified villagers begin screaming again.