Elm and Ione return to Elm’s room and find Hauth waiting, fully healed and unscarred. Hauth uses a Scythe to freeze Elm in place, revealing that after Elm returned the Nightmare Card, Linden used it to reach Hauth’s mind and learned that the Maiden Card had healed Ione after Hauth pushed her from Spindle House.

Linden explains that he stole Elm’s keys, entered Ione’s room, found the Maiden Card, and tapped it to heal his own scars. Hauth takes Elm’s Scythe, questions Elm about Ravyn and Jespyr, and forces Elm to answer that they have gone to the Twin Alders, though Elm does not know where or when they will return. Elm warns Hauth that the being inside Elspeth Spindle will destroy him when he returns.

Hauth orders Linden to return the Maiden Card to Ione and commands Ione to tap it. To test the Card’s limits, Hauth stabs Ione through the chest while Elm is forced to watch, unable to move or help her. Ione appears to die, and Hauth concludes that the Maiden cannot save her from a fatal blow.

After the Scythe’s hold releases, Elm crawls to Ione and begs her to live. Ione revives, and her wound begins closing, proving that the Maiden can heal even a blade through the heart. Hauth and Linden realize the Card grants something close to invincibility, while Elm openly vows to kill Hauth for what he has done.

Physician Filick Willow enters with his dogs and sees the bloody room. He tries to help Ione, but Hauth dismisses him. The King arrives, overcome with relief that Hauth is alive, while Elm confirms that Ione’s wound is healing. Hauth tells the King to hold a feast in his honor that night, promising to explain his survival there.