After two weeks of slow travel through muddy plains with Molly’s carnival, Elide grows exhausted by using her mother’s name, Marion, as an alias. Ombriel continues probing Elide’s story, while Elide keeps lying about her past and her reasons for looking north. Lorcan remains distant except when escorting Elide to gather water or wood, using those moments to press her for detailed information about Morath.

While collecting firewood, Lorcan demands that Elide describe Morath’s dungeons. Elide resists because the subject revives memories of her own captivity, and she claims the dungeons were likely destroyed in the explosion. When Lorcan challenges her evasions, Elide refuses to continue, arguing that their bargain did not specify how quickly she had to share what she knows.

Lorcan grabs Elide by the elbow and calls her Marion, but he releases her when ordered. The stone hidden in Elide’s pocket begins to thrum, and Lorcan senses something strange about her. Lorcan reveals that Celaena Sardothien and Aelin Galathynius are connected, confirming that Elide’s search for one will lead to the other, but Elide is left feeling lonely, doubtful of her usefulness, and uncertain whether Aelin will care about her.

When Elide and Lorcan return to camp, the others have set up a small tent for the supposed married couple. Lorcan recognizes that Elide is near an emotional breaking point and decides not to push her further, because he needs her knowledge of Morath. To regain some trust and control for her, Lorcan arranges hot water, stands guard while Elide bathes, and later washes her clothes himself and brings food and borrowed garments.

From Lorcan’s point of view, he thinks bitterly about Rowan and Aelin, believing love weakened Rowan and that Aelin foolishly chose Rowan over a possible bargain with Maeve. Lorcan also considers the threat of Morath’s bred horrors and worries about what they could mean for Doranelle if Maeve does not fight. These thoughts show Lorcan’s cold pragmatism but also his growing unease about the scale of Erawan’s forces.

After Lorcan’s unexpected care, Elide finally shares crucial truths. Her uncle Vernon is a commander at Morath who once imprisoned her and brought her there to see whether his bloodline could be crossed with the Valg, though he did not succeed with Elide. Elide confirms that the Morath explosion was not accidental but refuses to expose the people who saved her. When Lorcan asks about her ruined ankle, Elide accidentally reveals that Vernon chained her long before Morath, and she tells Lorcan to ask Vernon about it when Lorcan kills him.