Lysandra recognizes Abraxos’s roar as the wyvern descends from the clouds with twelve more wyverns and Ironteeth riders. Rowan orders the archers not to fire. The witches attack Maeve’s Fae fleet, breaking lines and cutting grappling ropes, giving Aelin’s allies a crucial reprieve.

A golden-haired witch lands near Lysandra and Aedion and asks for Manon Blackbeak. She identifies herself as Asterin Blackbeak. Aedion says Manon is present but that the explanation will have to wait, promising answers if Asterin and the Thirteen save them. Asterin accepts and leads the coven back into battle.

The Thirteen strike in formation, using armored wyverns, blades, and iron teeth to scatter and destroy Maeve’s panicking ships. Rowan and Dorian use what magic they have left to annihilate anything that slips past the witches, while Lysandra and Aedion return to the fight despite exhaustion and injuries.

From Rowan’s perspective, the battle begins to turn. His magic is nearly spent, and Fenrys, Lorcan, and Gavriel have already disappeared, likely summoned by Maeve, but Ansel’s and Rolfe’s forces hold firm. When Maeve’s remaining fleet begins to retreat, Rowan signals Asterin, and the Thirteen pursue the fleeing ships with help from Rowan’s Whitethorn cousins.

Rowan flies above the battlefield and realizes Maeve’s personal battleship, the Nightingale, is missing. He returns to Aedion and Lysandra’s blood-soaked ship, where Dorian arrives and says he can sense something near the coast: flame, shadow, death, Lorcan, Aelin, and an ancient powerful female presence.

Rowan understands that Maeve used the naval battle as a distraction while Maeve slipped away to seize Aelin. With rowing too slow and Rowan’s magic depleted, he concludes that they need a wyvern if they are to reach Aelin in time and stand any chance of helping her.