Nona enters Ianthe Naberius’s occupied barracks disguised as Harrow, with Camilla beside her. Ianthe immediately notices that “Harrow” is too silent and passive, mocks Camilla and Crown, and reveals that she expected Harrow to demand Gideon’s body. Nona keeps to her role by refusing to react, but Ianthe’s suspicion grows.

Ianthe explains that the Emperor wants the Sixth House back after its facility vanished, and threatens to kill or interrogate its leadership to force obedience. Camilla reveals that the Sixth did not flee for moral reasons but because Cassiopeia the First left instructions for them to leave “for a Lyctor.” This shocks Ianthe, who realizes the information would further destabilize God, and Pyrrha confirms that Cassiopeia was thought dead.

Crown tries to persuade Ianthe to abandon the Emperor’s cause and leave with her, appealing to their bond and asking to start over. Ianthe refuses, insisting there is no starting over and that she has her own plan for them both. Ianthe then resumes control of the room, intending to leave with Nona, Crown, and Captain Deuteros while abandoning the larger political mission.

When Ianthe confronts Nona directly and questions what happened to Harrow after Mercymorn stabbed her, Nona panics and imitates Judith Deuteros’s cry for help. The scream becomes a powerful, unnatural blast that kills the lights, disrupts the necromantic bodies, and briefly incapacitates everyone. When Nona recovers, Pyrrha is down, Camilla is restrained and wounded, and Ianthe has decided to take Nona bound and gagged to the Emperor.

Ianthe declares Camilla unnecessary and offers either immediate execution or mutilation before later interrogation. Camilla invokes an old Third House challenge and asks for a duel so she can die on her feet, but Ianthe refuses until Crown threatens suicide with Pyrrha’s gun. To save Crown, Ianthe agrees to a formal duel, with Crown arbitrating: Camilla may leave if she can take Ianthe’s handkerchief.

The duel begins with Ianthe clearly superior, moving with the skill of both herself and Naberius. Camilla fights carefully, trying to get inside Ianthe’s guard, but Ianthe counters, breaks Camilla’s lunge, and impales her through the belly. While holding Ianthe’s sword wrist, Camilla declares, “Match to the Sixth,” and Ianthe abruptly collapses.