Diem races from Mortal City toward the fire in Lumnos City, terrified that the Guardians used the palace entrance she gave them and that children such as Elric and Lily may be dead or wounded. At the healers’ center, Diem gathers pain remedies, burn treatments, clotting herbs, splints, and gauze, then orders the trainees to stay behind for local emergencies and send any other healers toward the explosion.

As Diem runs along the road between the mortal and Descended cities, guilt overwhelms her. Diem repeats to herself that the disaster is her fault, unable to tell whether the flames are coming from the royal palace or elsewhere in the city.

Diem encounters six men towing two covered carts and recognizes Henri among them. Henri stops Diem and tells Diem to go home, forget the fire, and forget seeing the group. When another explosion sounds and the men react with satisfaction, Diem realizes Henri and the Guardians are connected to the attack.

Vance steps forward and greets Diem as a fellow rebel, telling Diem that the victory belongs partly to her because the Guardians could not have succeeded without her. Diem recognizes Brant and Francis as part of the group and notices the covered carts, but Vance and Henri refuse to explain what is inside. When Diem insists that wounded people, possibly children, may need help, Vance says the Guardians cannot allow mortals to be seen near the target.

Henri restrains Diem while the Guardians circle her, and Diem realizes force will not free her from six stronger men. Remembering Andrei’s lesson that she must be smarter when she cannot be stronger, Diem pretends to accept Henri and Vance’s orders. When Brant threatens to take Diem’s medical bag, Diem runs, breaks through the men’s attempted barrier, and cuts the bag’s strap with her dagger so a pursuer trips over it. Diem loses the supplies but escapes toward the fire.