After two weeks traveling down from the Nightstone through winter storms and ruined forests, Gabriel and Phoebe reach Redwatch, the fortified city on the frozen Volta. Gabriel remains haunted by Celene and continually checks the blood Dior carries, relieved each time to sense that Dior is still alive.

Redwatch is surrounded by desperate Ossian refugees, but the gates are shut under heightened security after nearby devastation by the Dyvok. Because Gabriel is wanted in the city, Gabriel assumes the false identity of Frère Philippe Montfort, a silversaint of San Michon, and presents Phoebe as a captured duskdancer sorceress.

The guards initially challenge them, but Gabriel exploits fear and superstition to gain entry. Phoebe plays along despite irritation, pretending holy water burns her and threatening the guards so convincingly that the sergente allows Gabriel to take Phoebe toward the priory without an escort.

Once inside Redwatch, Gabriel frees Phoebe from her bonds and leads her through crowded streets and patrols toward the docks. They reach the White Rabbit, a rough tavern where Gabriel plans to eat, rest, and seek help obtaining horses the next day so they can continue pursuing Dior without delay.

Inside the tavern, Gabriel is overwhelmed by the smell of blood and his worsening hunger. When Gabriel finds the golden vial Mila once gave him, Gabriel identifies the dregs inside as blood and explains to Phoebe that palebloods who drink blood risk falling into the red thirst, which is why the Silver Order smokes it instead.

The conversation turns tense when Phoebe mentions Gabriel once drinking from his woman. Before Gabriel can continue, a scarred woman in Clan Maergenn colors slams a sheathed sword onto their table, says she heard Gabriel was dead, and threatens to make Gabriel wish that were true.