At noon, the reactive powder hidden in the dancers’ glitter and glass flowers ignites, filling the palace room with thick smoke. Aelin uses the confusion and her gray costume as cover, confirms that Aedion is not wearing a black collar, and begins cutting down the guards nearest the platform.

Aelin reaches Aedion as the clock continues striking. Aedion has already killed several guards with shards of his stool, but magical chains still bind him. Aelin cuts her own forearm and draws the Wyrdmarks for unlocking on the chains; the spell burns, but the chains fall away.

Before they flee, Aedion demands the displayed sword behind him, and Aelin realizes it is the Sword of Orynth, her father’s blade. Aelin gives it to Aedion, puts the Eye around his neck, and leads him toward the patio doors while the smoke and panicking crowd prevent the guards from using arrows.

Aelin turns the crowd’s fear into a stampede by shouting that there is fire. Courtiers and servants break through the windows and doors, trampling guards and washing away threshold Wyrdmarks with buckets of water. Aelin gets the weakened, light-blinded Aedion into the garden, where six guards block their escape.

Aelin orders Aedion not to interfere and kills the six guards with the lethal skill Rowan taught her. Aedion, despite his injuries and exhaustion, follows her into the hedges. There, Aelin uses her blood again to unlock his wrist manacles, but before they can discard the chains and escape, Dorian appears, walking toward them.