In the prison at Sul Adair, Gabriel continues recounting his journey to Jean-François. Gabriel explains that he, Phoebe, and the Moonsmaidens traveled for two nights through the Daesweald toward Wintermoot, while Maoic used charms and herbs to keep the wounded Phoebe alive. Brynne á Killaech remains distrustful of Gabriel, but Gabriel insists that Phoebe and Dior are his friends and that he will risk death for them.

As they travel, Brynne explains that Wintermoot is a sacred Highland gathering where clan leaders and Mothers settle disputes, broker truces, and arrange alliances. The group reaches Ma’dair Craeth, the Cradle of the Mothers, an uncorrupted valley with ancient statues, a frozen loch, and a great hall at its heart. Gabriel is struck by the beauty of the place and by the presence of many duskdancers in animal and half-animal forms.

Priestesses of the Cradle stop Gabriel at the entrance, identify him as expected, and demand that Gabriel surrender his weapons. Gabriel reluctantly gives up Ashdrinker and his pistol so he may enter. Phoebe is taken quickly into the hall for care, while Gabriel is brought to a tower room under guard, where Brynne threatens him if Phoebe dies. Gabriel thanks Brynne for trusting him enough to bring him there, and Brynne grudgingly accepts his handshake.

After a long wait, Phoebe comes to Gabriel’s room alive but still weakened. Phoebe introduces Gabriel to her aunt Cinna, Auld-Sìth of the Dúnnsair, and her cousin Breandan, the Rígan-Mor of their clan. Cinna tells Gabriel she dreamed of him as a Black Lion surrounded by ominous symbols, then acknowledges that Phoebe has told her Dior is the Godling and that Cinna’s daughter Saoirse is dead.

The grief over Saoirse leads Gabriel, in the frame narrative, to recall explaining death to his daughter Patience after Patience’s pet gull died. Gabriel admits he once told Patience he did not know why a loving God allowed suffering, but now speaks with anger toward God. Returning to the Highland meeting, Cinna says Gabriel and Phoebe will be allowed to present their case before the All Mothers the next day, because Gabriel’s attempt to save Phoebe may carry weight despite the long hatred between silversaints and duskdancers.

Cinna and Breandan reveal the major obstacle: two years earlier, the Highland clans made a truce with Lilidh Dyvok, the Winterwife. In exchange for peace from the Dead, the clans promised not to enter the lands beyond Dún Fas. Gabriel is outraged, but Cinna explains that the Highlands are exhausted by blight, clan wars, and death, so breaking the pact would risk a war they can scarcely survive. Cinna leaves to seek support among the leófuil, warning Gabriel that he must offer more than hatred of vampires if he hopes to persuade the moot.