The Sea Dragon races beyond Skull’s Bay with Rowan’s winds pushing it toward Morath’s approaching black-sailed fleet. Behind the ship, Rolfe raises Ship-Breaker to seal the harbor and protect the remaining ships and town, because Aelin’s plan depends on one ship drawing the enemy close enough for a decisive strike.

Aelin, Rowan, Rolfe, Fenrys, and Gavriel prepare on deck. Aelin and Rowan fasten iron manacles around their wrists, cut their palms, and join their blood while Rowan transfers his power into Aelin. Aelin reveals she has been descending into the depths of her magic for days, trying to gather enough force without relying on Rowan after his recent exhaustion.

When Rolfe gives the command, Aelin’s magic erupts as a towering pillar of flame, far greater than Rowan expects. Rowan realizes too late that the Wyrdkey at Aelin’s chest has opened something inside her power. A presence takes hold of Aelin, melts the iron from her wrist, and speaks through her with cold silver fire.

Rowan identifies the presence as Deanna. The goddess tells Rowan to warn the Queen Who Was Promised that every key has a lock, that allies will not matter unless Aelin retrieves and wields the Lock to return the keys, and that flame and iron bound together become silver and reveal what must be found.

From within her own trapped consciousness, Aelin feels Deanna using Aelin’s body and magic. Deanna first faces Morath’s fleet, then turns the moonfire toward Skull’s Bay itself, intending to obliterate the innocent city. Rowan throws himself between Aelin’s hand and the town, forcing Aelin to remember herself and fight free of Deanna’s control.

Aelin reclaims her body at the last instant and diverts the moonfire away from Rowan and the city. The blast strikes the Sea Dragon, the center and left flank of Morath’s fleet, and the edge of the island, exploding them in a storm of fire and ice.