Gabriel rides for six nights through the Daesweald with Phoebe dying in his arms. Silver burns through Phoebe’s veins, and Gabriel uses idleshade and neverhelm tea to slow Phoebe’s pulse, but the journey into the blighted Highland woods grows increasingly grim and dangerous.

As Gabriel rides, Ashdrinker tries to distract him and then challenges Gabriel’s long mourning for Astrid. Ashdrinker argues that Astrid would not have wanted Gabriel to cut himself off from happiness, and the conversation exposes Gabriel’s guilt over caring for Phoebe. Ashdrinker’s fading memory also troubles Gabriel, as the sword admits some days it can remember nothing.

Owls begin gathering in unnatural numbers around Gabriel, unnerving him as dusk falls. The omen becomes an immediate threat when a huge black bear attacks. Thorn bolts, but Argent stands over Phoebe, and Gabriel fights the monstrous bear with his pistol, Ashdrinker, his fangs, and finally his bare hands. Gabriel is badly mauled but breaks the bear’s jaw and drives it away from Phoebe.

Gabriel crawls back to Phoebe and confirms that she is still alive. When Gabriel prepares to finish the wounded bear, Ashdrinker stops him, revealing that the bear is a duskdancer like Phoebe. Armed Highland women emerge from the trees, led first by a hooded huntress, and aim bows at Gabriel while he stands bleeding over Phoebe.

Gabriel lowers Ashdrinker and explains that Phoebe is a daughter of Clan Dúnnsair, has been shot with silver, and must reach Cinna á Dúnnsair and the Wintermoot. The wounded bear shifts into a huge bear-kin woman named Brynne, who demands Gabriel’s name and a reason not to kill him. Gabriel argues that he is not a vampire, that Phoebe would punish anyone who killed him, and most importantly that the Godling has been found and Gabriel knows where she is.

In the framing conversation, Jean-François questions Gabriel’s dramatic self-introduction, and Gabriel admits he truly said it. Back in the tale, Brynne remains hostile but accepts that Phoebe needs help and that Gabriel may carry vital news. Brynne warns Gabriel that one wrong step will cost him his skin, then orders that the smartarse come with them.