Saeris watches over Hayden, who has truly arrived in Yvelia but remains unconscious after passing through the quicksilver. Te Léna examines him and explains that Hayden is physically fine, but the transition between planes may keep him asleep for some time, especially because he is human. Since Ammontraíeth lacks safety and human healers, the group has brought Hayden to Cahlish.

Te Léna urges Saeris to rest, promising to fetch Saeris the moment Hayden wakes. Te Léna also apologizes because her healing magic cannot help Saeris; instead of entering Saeris, it rolls off strangely, while Saeris’s cuts are already closing on their own. Exhausted from wielding so much quicksilver power, Saeris leaves Hayden in Te Léna’s care and goes to Kingfisher’s rooms.

In Kingfisher’s rooms, Archer and other fire sprites are preparing a bath and tidying. Saeris tries to make Archer treat Saeris more casually, asking to be called by her name rather than formal titles, but Archer is anxious about proper service. A small fire sprite touches a ceramic kingfisher ornament, and Archer explains that Kingfisher’s mother, Lady Edina, chose the name Kingfisher because of that ornament when Kingfisher was a child.

After bathing, Saeris waits for Kingfisher, who arrives after arranging for Lorreth to bring Bill and Aida safely back across the river. Kingfisher tells Saeris the rot has devastated the former camp area, turning the snow black. Saeris asks whether Belikon can command oath-sworn Fae through Orious’s threat, and Kingfisher reassures her that Belikon’s compulsion cannot reach Cahlish or Ammontraíeth and would require Belikon’s physical presence elsewhere.

Saeris and Kingfisher reconnect emotionally and physically after their separation. Kingfisher praises Saeris’s fighting and reads the Old Fae inscriptions on Saeris’s new swords: Erromar means mercy, and Selanir means honor. They notice Saeris’s veins now shine with quicksilver and Kingfisher’s quicksilver rune has become solid, but Kingfisher urges Saeris to set those worries aside for the moment.

Saeris and Kingfisher rest together, then reaffirm the depth of their bond. Kingfisher promises they will never separate again and declares that his love for Saeris is his strength, not his weakness. After their intimacy, Saeris sees ink shift from the God Bindings on Saeris’s arm onto Kingfisher’s body near his collarbone, but Kingfisher does not notice; Saeris decides to let him discover the new mark himself.