Celaena prepares to leave the castle at midnight despite having been stripped of her weapons and watched by guards. Instead of using a door or window, Celaena locks her room, leaves Fleetfoot frightened under the bed, and enters the secret passage to the tomb.

In Elena and Gavin’s tomb, Mort offers sympathy for Nehemia’s death, but Celaena ignores him. Celaena arms herself from the treasure hoard with daggers and knives, takes gold and jewels for leverage, and removes Damaris, Gavin’s sacred sword, despite Mort warning that she risks angering the gods.

Celaena escapes through the sewer grate into Rifthold, intent on finding Grave, the assassin she believes murdered Nehemia. Celaena goes to the Vaults, a criminal underworld haunt, because Grave’s vanity and recent payment make it likely that someone there knows where Grave is hiding. The barkeep recognizes Celaena despite her mask, and Celaena uses treasure and intimidation to demand information about Grave.

The perspective shifts to Grave, who has been confident that no one suspected him and that killing Nehemia would increase his reputation. When Celaena appears at Grave’s tavern and calls his name, Grave flees through the slums, hoping to lose her and then make a stand where Grave can punish Celaena for humiliating him during the competition.

Grave runs into a dead-end alley and prepares to fight, but Celaena corners him with silent control. Grave attacks first, but Celaena easily evades Grave and slices his shins, leaving Grave unable to walk. Celaena pins Grave’s wrists to the wall with daggers and demands to know who hired Grave to kill Princess Nehemia.

Grave tries to deny involvement and bargain with gold, so Celaena drives daggers into Grave’s thighs and escalates the torture. When Celaena threatens to cut off Grave’s thumb, Grave breaks and says he will tell Celaena everything, ending the chapter just before Grave names the person who hired him.