At Morath, Manon Blackbeak stands with the Thirteen as the Blackbeak Matron arrives with her coven. The fortress is still partly ruined from the explosion, and Manon expects Lord Vernon to exploit the damage and the failed investigations to undermine Manon before her grandmother.

As Manon leads the Matron toward the council chamber, the Matron questions Manon about the explosion that destroyed the Yellowlegs breeding experiments. Manon reports only rumors that Kaltain caused it with shadowfire and died in the blaze, hiding any satisfaction that the Valg-witch breeding has ended. Manon also reflects on Asterin’s past suffering at the Matron’s hands and senses the dangerous defiance growing within the Thirteen.

In the council room, Manon finds Vernon with a beautiful golden-haired stranger who has Valg-king eyes like Manon’s. The stranger reveals himself as Erawan, no longer concealing himself behind Duke Perrington’s former appearance. Erawan announces that the Ironteeth aerial host from the Ferian Gap will move on Rifthold, with Manon leading her Thirteen and two escort covens ahead of Iskra Yellowlegs’s force.

Erawan orders Manon to retake Rifthold and personally bring King Dorian to him if Dorian survives. Manon argues that completely destroying the capital would frighten potential allies such as Anielle, Melisande, and Fenharrow into uniting against Erawan, so Erawan should present the attack as liberation while still demonstrating power. Erawan accepts Manon’s reasoning but gives one symbolic command: bring down Aelin’s glass wall in Rifthold to break human morale.

After leaving the council chamber, Manon gathers the Thirteen and orders them to fly within thirty minutes. Manon intends to arrive before Iskra if possible and restrain the slaughter while ensuring no Yellowlegs witch kills Dorian. Ghislaine quickly explains that Erawan is an ancient Valg king once defeated after invading the world, which confirms the danger of their alliance.

Manon then receives the finished armor made for her by the mute blacksmith: dark, scale-like plates and a crowned helm that makes her look like a conqueror. Manon thanks the blacksmith, mounts Abraxos, and leads the Thirteen into the gray sky toward Rifthold.