Aedion and Lysandra wait in a Skull’s Bay alley as part of Rowan’s plan to lure whoever might pursue the Amulet of Orynth, which Lysandra hides beneath her disguise. Because Rolfe’s hand-map may lead to the Lock and cannot simply be stolen, the group hopes the amulet will draw attention. Aedion worries the trap will fail and notices Lysandra’s exhaustion from repeated shifting.

Dorian arrives under a hood to check on their progress, pretending to be another customer approaching Lysandra. Aedion treats Dorian coldly because Dorian’s face still evokes Adarlan’s slaughter of Terrasen and Aelin’s suffering, but Lysandra rebukes Aedion after Dorian leaves. Lysandra argues that Dorian was enslaved and tortured, and that Aedion should show compassion even if forgiveness is difficult.

The argument shifts to Aedion’s unresolved fear of meeting Gavriel, his father. Lysandra tells Aedion that Gavriel seemed to want answers but would likely respect Aedion’s wishes, while Aedion admits he does not know what he wants because his life has always been shaped by duty, war, and others’ demands. Aedion decides to meet Gavriel the next morning and asks Lysandra to come with him, and Lysandra agrees by her silence and presence.

Footsteps interrupt them, and Aedion and Lysandra resume their lovers’ pose as bait. The newcomer is Rolfe’s barmaid, matching Rowan’s description, but she claims she took a wrong turn and leaves after Lysandra taunts her. When no one else arrives, Aedion and Lysandra return toward the Ocean Rose, suspecting the barmaid may have been a scout or may have expected to find something other than the amulet.