Gabriel wakes in a mountain cave after the fall at Cairnhaem, broken, freezing, and kept alive by Phoebe and sacrament smoke. Phoebe has dressed him in salvaged clothes and is wearing the only spare outfit from his saddlebags: an extravagant green ballgown Dior packed. When Gabriel remembers Dior’s capture, Gabriel tries to rise, but Phoebe stops him, and Gabriel accidentally burns Phoebe with the silver in his palm.

Gabriel demands to know why Phoebe saved him instead of chasing Dior. Phoebe explains that Kiara and Aaron defeated Phoebe badly, so Phoebe chose to preserve Gabriel as help rather than pursue Dior alone. Gabriel then notices Phoebe’s altered golden eyes, and Phoebe reveals that each transformation now changes wealdlings faster because the death of days has hidden the Mothermoons and the Blight has corrupted the Earth Father. Phoebe explains that Dior matters to Phoebe’s people because Dior may end the Time of Blighted Blood.

Gabriel realizes Phoebe shifted into beast-form, dragged Gabriel from the snow, gathered wood, and saved Gabriel despite the personal cost of changing shape. Gabriel thanks Phoebe, then confesses Gabriel struck Dior before the battle, violating a vow shaped by Gabriel’s own abuse as a child. Phoebe tells Gabriel to stop wallowing and save remorse for after Dior is recovered, reminding Gabriel that Dior is not gone, only lost.

Gabriel uses the vial of Gabriel’s blood that Gabriel gave Dior to sense Dior’s direction. Gabriel feels Dior moving quickly south and concludes Dior is likely being carried by the Dyvok toward Ossway, perhaps Dún Maergenn. Gabriel initially wants Phoebe to chase Dior alone, but Phoebe argues that the enemy already beat them and that they need horses, supplies, and a plan to win the larger fight.

In the present frame, Jean-François comments on Phoebe, and Gabriel reflects that honest companions who challenge him are more valuable than flatterers. Returning to the cave, Gabriel and Phoebe agree to work together. Phoebe reveals she recovered Ashdrinker, and Gabriel has an emotional reunion with the damaged blade, reassuring Ashdrinker that Gabriel still needs her. Gabriel explains that Ashdrinker was broken when Gabriel tried to kill the Forever King, and that the attempt also cost Gabriel’s family.

Gabriel and Phoebe decide to head for Redwatch despite the danger to Gabriel, because Gabriel has possible allies there and they need mounts to intercept Dior before the Dyvok reach Dún Maergenn. That night, Phoebe insists they share blankets for warmth, despite Gabriel’s discomfort and concern about propriety. As Phoebe sleeps, Gabriel is haunted by a vision in which Astrid becomes Celene on the Cairnhaem bridge, and Gabriel hears Dior calling for him as the storm swallows Gabriel’s answer.