Elm follows Ravyn and Ione from the bright great hall into Stone’s bleak throne room, where King Rowan waits with his hounds, Destriers, and a Scythe. Rowan orders Elm to take Hauth’s vacant place at the right side of the throne, forcing Elm into his brother’s former position while Ione stands chained before the court.

Rowan opens a Chalice inquest against Ione Hawthorn, Tyrn Hawthorn, and Erik Spindle for allegedly aiding Elspeth Spindle, whom Rowan has already condemned for carrying the infection, killing Orithe Willow, and attacking Hauth. Under the Chalice’s truth-binding effect, Tyrn admits he always knew of Elspeth’s infection, while Erik and Ione deny knowing about Elspeth’s strange magic with Providence Cards. Rowan presses for the missing Hawthorn and Spindle relatives, then turns on Ione for agreeing to marry Hauth while knowing Elspeth had been infected.

Ione answers Rowan with open contempt and is slapped by Linden, but her Maiden Card quickly restores her face. Tyrn then admits that he delivered Elspeth to Hauth, believing Hauth would handle Elspeth’s infection quietly to protect Ione’s reputation. Seeing Ione’s silent plea and knowing she saved his life, Elm decides to intervene with his Scythe, but avoids forcing Ione to lie because the Chalice could punish her violently.

Elm instead uses the Scythe on Tyrn, exploiting Tyrn’s desire to protect Ione. Compelled by Elm, Tyrn argues that sparing Ione would help Rowan contain court gossip and says Rowan himself bears blame for Hauth’s fate because Rowan arranged the marriage with an infected family for the sake of a Nightmare Card. The accusation shocks the room and briefly gives Elm hope that Rowan’s fear of rumor may keep Ione alive.

The intervention backfires when Erik realizes Tyrn gave Elspeth up to Hauth. Erik attacks Tyrn with his chains, seizes Linden’s dagger, and demands to know where Elspeth is. In the struggle, Erik’s blade cuts Ione’s palms deeply; Elm fights through the Destriers, pulls Ione free by her chains, and tries to stanch her bleeding.

Overwhelmed by the chaos and Ione’s injury, Elm uses his Scythe again on a far larger scale. Imagining the throne room frozen in ice, Elm commands everyone to be still. The room freezes in place, including Rowan, Ione, Erik, Tyrn, and the Destriers, while Ravyn alone remains able to move and Elm’s nose begins to bleed from the Scythe’s cost.