Rowan realizes Maeve has sent Fenrys, Gavriel, and Vaughan to hunt Lorcan. Fenrys explains that Vaughan has flown north while Fenrys and Gavriel search the South, beginning in Skull’s Bay because Lorcan might seek a discreet ship there. Their warning to Rolfe about Maeve’s armada was partly a bribe to gain his help.

Fenrys asks Rowan for Lorcan’s whereabouts, but Rowan refuses because Lorcan may possess Wyrdkeys and returning Lorcan to Maeve could be disastrous. Gavriel offers to bargain, and Rowan demands an army from Doranelle in exchange for information. When Fenrys says that is impossible because Maeve’s armada is already deployed, Rowan reframes the bargain: Fenrys and Gavriel can serve Aelin and fight in her war until Lorcan inevitably returns to Rowan and Aelin.

Rowan argues that Maeve’s orders leave loopholes and that Fenrys and Gavriel can technically still fulfill their command later. Fenrys questions whether Aelin’s fire can truly stand against Morath and the darkness gathering. Rowan answers by reminding them that Maeve refused to stop the devastation ten years earlier, and that Aelin is willing to fight Erawan, Maeve, and even the gods for peace.

To convince them, Rowan stresses that Aelin cannot win alone and that if her flame is extinguished, all lands and worlds are doomed. Fenrys and Gavriel silently weigh the danger of defying Maeve’s likely intent, knowing she may punish them for exploiting loopholes in her commands.

Before they can refuse, Rowan reveals to Gavriel that if he does not fight in the war, he will doom his son to die. Gavriel is stunned to learn he has a son, and Rowan tells him that Aedion is on his way to Skull’s Bay. Rowan then dismisses Fenrys and Gavriel, warning them not to reveal Aedion’s existence to Maeve or he will break the bargain and even help Lorcan kill them if necessary.