After Camelot's costly victory over King Rience, Collum sits at a private feast troubled by having killed six men. Drinking heavily, he listens as the assembled lords, kings, and bishops piece together how narrowly they avoided defeat: archers couldn't halt their own cavalry charge, an unexpected mounted force struck the left flank, and only Nimue's arrival turned the tide before she collapsed. Rience escaped, but his noble allies were hunted down, including the Earl of Aeron, butchered by peasants, while Sir Dinadan captured baggage revealing Eastbrook coins—Guinevere's family—funded the enemy.

The conversation turns to Britain's leadership crisis. Constantine, undermined by his father King Cador, defends his pursuit strategy. Bedivere lays out limited options: choose a lesser royal, marry someone to Guinevere, await divine intervention, or submit to Morgan le Fay. Collum reveals Morgan's claim to the throne and her intention to return. Bedivere shocks the room by disclosing that Morgan was on the ship that took Arthur to Avalon, calling him "brother." Cador offers himself as High King; Constantine backs Lancelot; Palomides suggests considering Morgan.

The debate is interrupted by Sir Melehan, a boy of ten or eleven dressed in black velvet, who announces himself as Mordred's son and Arthur's only living male descendant, demanding the throne. He claims an army of 2,500 will attack within three days unless he is crowned. He is sent to the dungeons and the feast collapses.

Unable to sleep, Collum finds Nimue in the courtyard digging holes to strengthen magical boundaries around Camelot, since Morgan's barriers are thinning. He helps her, and they speak honestly about magic and killing—Nimue admits to slaying 173, including seven allies and a woman. She supports waiting for God, distinguishing prayer from spellcraft. She tells Collum she doesn't trust him because he keeps secrets, but gives him a silver shilling she won from Dinadan, sensing he'll need it more.