Maeve’s armada has the wind, the current, more ships, immortal warriors, and magic, leaving Aelin’s fleet no realistic chance to flee. Rowan and Aedion lay out every possible course, but each ends in confrontation. Maeve sends a single rowboat with her terms: Aelin must surrender by dawn or be sunk.

The deadline gives fear time to spread through Aelin’s forces. Aelin meets again with Rowan and Aedion while the cadre remains outside the council, and Aedion urges a surprise attack. The plan is rejected because Maeve would anticipate it and her magic could strike faster than Aelin’s forces could launch weapons.

Dorian stays quiet, watching Aelin and Manon as if trying to solve a hidden problem, while Aelin realizes time is both her only tool and her downfall. Rowan briefly suggests Aelin run, but the idea collapses because Aelin will not leave Rowan behind. As night falls, Aelin counts Maeve’s black sails and admits to herself that she has no answer.

Later, Rowan lies awake beside the sleeping Aelin and understands that Aelin’s calm is shock. Refusing to let Maeve be the force that breaks them, Rowan studies the house flags flying beneath Maeve’s crest and decides to act alone. After one last look at Aelin, Rowan shifts into hawk form and flies into Maeve’s fleet under cover of night.

Rowan first enters the ship of his cousin Endymion, or Enda, who senses Rowan’s arrival but does not attack. Their conversation reveals that Enda has recently mated and married Lord Kerrigan’s son, and Rowan recognizes that Enda understands the value of waiting for the right person. Rowan then makes a private request of Enda, who answers only that he will consider it.

Rowan continues from ship to ship, approaching other cousins and giving each the same speech and request. Every cousin gives the same guarded answer: they will consider it. The chapter ends with Rowan having secretly appealed to family ties within Maeve’s own forces, though no one has yet openly committed to helping him.