Celaena races through Rifthold after Archer’s warning that Nehemia may be targeted inside the castle. Desperate to reach Nehemia before the assassin does, Celaena sheds her cloak and heavier weapons to gain speed and ignores pain, exhaustion, and the danger of being stopped.

To avoid the front gate and any delay that might alert the attacker, Celaena chooses a less guarded garden wall. Celaena climbs over it despite injuring her hands, crosses the garden, and enters through glass doors where the guards recognize her; Dorian is nearby, but Celaena runs past without stopping.

Celaena sprints up the stairs toward Nehemia’s rooms while people shout after her. Celaena focuses only on saving Nehemia and on making up for the unresolved anger and cruel words between them, believing that if Celaena reaches Nehemia in time, Celaena can hide the princess and kill whoever comes for her.

Celaena reaches Nehemia’s closed door, sees no sign of forced entry, and breaks through the locks with her daggers ready. Inside, Celaena finds Nehemia’s bodyguards butchered and Nehemia’s broken body on the bed. The chapter ends with the devastating realization that Nehemia is already dead.