Ravyn goes to Emory’s locked chamber after the guards outside step into shadow. Before entering, Ravyn taps his Nightmare Card three times to reach Jespyr through salt-scented magic and tells Jespyr they are leaving for the Twin Alders at dawn. When Jespyr asks what Ravyn needs, Ravyn says Emory’s name, and Jespyr immediately agrees to come.

Inside the chamber, Ravyn finds Emory lying on a bench, seemingly asleep but visibly tense, gray-lipped, and shivering. Ravyn begins gathering Emory’s warm clothing and tells Emory that it is time to leave. When Emory asks whether their uncle knows, Ravyn says the King is aware, but Ravyn’s focus is on taking Emory home.

Ravyn is shaken by how severely Emory has deteriorated. Emory’s degeneration is not merely limiting his magic, as Ravyn’s does, or strengthening an inner monster, as Elspeth’s did; it is killing Emory. Ravyn promises that everything will get better, but when Ravyn accidentally touches Emory’s skin, Emory’s magic seizes hold.

Through that touch, Emory delivers a cryptic vision or prophecy: “The dark bird has three heads,” naming Highwayman, Destrier, and another tied to age and birthright, then asking whether Ravyn finally knows his name after his long walk in Emory’s wood. Ravyn pulls away, and Emory returns frightened and confused, with no memory of what happened. Ravyn hides the truth from Emory, knowing that Emory’s gift reveals thoughts, secrets, and futures but drains what little life Emory has left.

Ravyn lifts Emory carefully, avoiding further skin contact, and carries him out of the chamber. After the difficult descent, Ravyn meets Jespyr in the east corridor and gives Emory to her. Jespyr is shocked by Emory’s frailty, and Ravyn tells her to take Emory to Castle Yew immediately while Ravyn will follow shortly.

Jespyr leaves with Emory through a servants’ door. Ravyn does not look back toward Emory’s prison or grant the King’s castle any sentiment, except for one bitter farewell condemning the place.