In the King’s chambers late at night, Filick Willow stitches the wound above Ravyn’s brow while the King rages over Erik Spindle having overpowered Ravyn despite Erik’s imprisonment. The King also condemns Elm for failing to use the Scythe quickly enough, invoking Hauth as the son who understood such duties.

Jespyr arrives and reports that Erik Spindle and Tyrn Hawthorn have been returned to separate dungeon cells. The King erupts over Hauth’s unresponsiveness, Orithe’s death, and the revelation that Erik and Tyrn hid Elspeth Spindle’s infection for more than a decade. He blames Ravyn for failing to notice Elspeth while she lived at Castle Yew.

Jespyr tries to calm the King by admitting the Destriers missed what was in front of them, but Ravyn challenges the King’s blame. Ravyn says Elspeth was made a liar by Blunder’s laws the moment infection touched her blood. The remark silences the room, and the King orders everyone but Ravyn out.

Alone, the King questions Ravyn’s loyalty and position as Captain. The King decides Ione may remain at court to contain rumors, then orders Ravyn to follow Elspeth into the mist, let her find the Twin Alders Card, and bring her back. To ensure obedience, the King threatens to remove Emory from Castle Yew and put him in a cell if Ravyn or Elspeth attempts anything clever.

The King announces his intention to spill Elspeth’s infected blood at Solstice, unite the Deck, and become the Rowan who lifts the mist. Ravyn asks to take Elm, but the King refuses to risk his second heir. Ravyn instead secures permission to take Jespyr and another Destrier, Gorse. As Ravyn leaves, the King promises to strip him of command after the mission; Ravyn answers with a final defiant insult disguised as obedience.