In Februa 1786, Helena travels in civilian clothes to the abandoned factory Outpost north of Resistance Headquarters, using papers Crowther provided. The ruined structure has become a refuge for civilians avoiding both sides of the war, and Helena follows Ferron’s directions through the maze-like building to a nearly empty unit marked by an iron symbol.

Kaine Ferron admits Helena into the locked room, appearing disturbingly unchanged from his youth despite five years having passed. Helena states the terms of his offer: a full pardon and Helena herself, now and after the war, in exchange for his information. To maintain the mission Crowther gave her, Helena swears a formal vow that she is Ferron’s for as long as she lives, while privately resolving to make Ferron vulnerable to her.

Helena demands that Ferron swear not to interfere with her Resistance duties before the war is won. Ferron mocks her fear but agrees, then unexpectedly says he will not touch Helena yet because he specified she must be willing. This unnerves Helena because delaying intimacy also delays her attempt to manipulate him, but Ferron presses for at least a token of gratitude and tells Helena to kiss him if she wants information.

Helena recognizes Ferron’s behavior as a strategy meant to humiliate and destabilize her, so Helena decides to use the kiss as an opportunity. While kissing Ferron, Helena allows a faint thread of resonance beneath Ferron’s skin to learn how Ferron feels and what Ferron feels for her. Helena discovers that Ferron is alive but profoundly unnatural, physically present yet strangely immutable, like touching a reflection rather than a person. Ferron abruptly pulls away, less composed than before, and remarks that Helena is full of surprises.

Ferron gives Helena a tarnished silver ring matched to one he wears, explaining that the rings are entangled so Helena can feel when Ferron heats his ring to summon her. Ferron reacts viciously when Helena asks whether she can summon him in return, making clear that Ferron refuses to be controlled. Helena proposes regular meetings during her early-morning medical supply trips, and Ferron agrees. Ferron then gives Helena an envelope addressed to Aurelia Ingram, says Crowther already has the cipher, and orders Helena to leave by a different route.