Deep in the witches' barracks, Manon summons the Thirteen after Duke Perrington asks her to choose another Blackbeak coven for his breeding experiments. The Thirteen refuse to name any coven, arguing that Blackbeaks are not slaves and should not be used to produce demon offspring. Their united resistance makes Manon feel managed and betrayed, especially when Sorrel says there are things Manon needs to hear.

The confrontation intensifies when Asterin challenges Manon's authority and says the Thirteen would rather be chosen themselves than hand over their sisters. Manon threatens to kill Asterin, and Asterin dares her to do it, but the argument is interrupted when a golden-haired young man wearing a black stone collar enters the guarded room.

The collared man unleashes a wave of supernatural darkness that traps several witches in terror and pain. Manon relives the memory of the Crochan witch accusing Blackbeaks of hollowing out their children, then recognizes the intruder as like the golden-haired man Elide saw with the Yellowlegs. Manon tracks the demon-possessed man by scent, tackles him, and questions who sent him while Asterin helps pin him down.

For a moment, the young man breaks through the possession and begs Manon to kill him, identifying himself as Roland. The demon returns, shrieking in fear after looking into Manon's face, and Manon rips through Roland's throat until his head hits the floor. When the darkness vanishes, Manon sees that only some members of the Thirteen were harmed; the unaffected witches all have black eyes flecked with gold, suggesting those prized Blackbeak eyes can resist or terrify the Valg.

Later, Manon corners Kaltain on a forgotten stairway and demands to know the source of the shadowfire. Kaltain says the power began as hers, was melded with another source, and is now tied to every world and life; she also says the collar cannot be removed and that Perrington's forces want kings, not witches. When Kaltain touches Manon, shadowfire inflicts an unbearable burning sensation without leaving real injury, leaving Manon shaken as Kaltain walks away.