In the framing conversation, Gabriel recounts the ambush at Ravenspire while Jean-François listens. Robin bursts in after triggering the glass ward and fires at Gabriel, grazing Gabriel's throat. Gabriel shoots Robin in the shoulder to buy time, while Phoebe attacks from the shadows and Gabriel arms himself with Robin's greatsword.

The fight spreads through the tower room. Gabriel battles Xavier, who tries to take Gabriel alive with a chained crossbow bolt, while Phoebe duels Robin despite the danger of Lachlan's silversteel blade. Phoebe overpowers Robin but obeys Gabriel's command not to kill him, hurling Robin through the broken shutters instead. Lachlan then attacks from behind, having climbed the tower wall, and shoots Phoebe twice with silvershot, leaving her apparently dying on the floor.

Seeing Phoebe fall awakens a violent rage in Gabriel. Gabriel wounds Xavier, uses Xavier as a shield against Lachlan's shots, and crashes through the tower wall with Lachlan. In the courtyard, Gabriel and Lachlan fight brutally until Gabriel gets Lachlan's own pistol under Lachlan's chin. Instead of killing Lachlan, Gabriel throws the weapon away and insists that if he were truly the traitor Lachlan believes him to be, Lachlan would already be dead.

Gabriel finally tells Lachlan the truth: Dior Lachance is the Holy Grail of San Michon, the reason Chloe and Greyhand sought to sacrifice her, and the reason vampires, a duskdancer, and a silversaint have all been drawn to her. Gabriel admits killing Greyhand and Sister Chloe but says he did it to save Dior, whose blood carries the Redeemer's power. Gabriel also reveals that Fabién Voss took Gabriel's wife and daughter, deepening Lachlan's shock and grief.

Gabriel returns to the room and finds Phoebe alive but gravely wounded, with silvershot still lodged near her heart and poisoning her blood. Gabriel tries to remove it but fails, and Phoebe begs Gabriel to save Dior and say farewell. When Phoebe mentions Aunt Cinna, Gabriel realizes Cinna may be able to heal her, even though Phoebe has warned that going to the Highlands means Gabriel's death.

Gabriel binds Phoebe's wounds, gathers their gear, and rides out on Argent with Thorn following. Lachlan and Robin watch from the courtyard as Gabriel warns Lachlan not to come after him unless he brings an army. Though the detour takes Gabriel farther from Dior and may lead to his death, Gabriel chooses to carry Phoebe toward the Highlands and the Moonsthrone in hopes of saving her life.