Talasyn and Vela arrive at the W'taida aboard a small skiff, passing between the two enormous dragons guarding the floating castle. Talasyn is overwhelmed by the dragons' power and bitterly reflects on how many Sardovian lives could have been saved had Nenavar intervened earlier. Prince Elagbi greets them warmly at the entrance, thanking Vela for caring for his daughter, and leads them through the opulent corridors toward the throne room. Vela quietly counsels Talasyn to let her do the talking and to control her temper before the Dragon Queen.

In the dimly lit throne room, Urduja—the Zahiya-lachis—confronts them coldly, criticizing Vela for bringing the Hurricane Wars to Nenavar's borders. Vela asks not for military aid but for sanctuary so the Sardovian fleet can regroup. Urduja is skeptical, citing the risks of harboring Kesath's enemies. When Talasyn impulsively speaks up, invoking her potential status as Urduja's granddaughter, the Dragon Queen acknowledges the resemblance to Elagbi's dead wife but reveals a devastating truth: Talasyn's mother, Hanan Ivralis, instigated the Nenavarene civil war. Hanan had refused the title of Lachis'ka and secretly sent a flotilla to aid Sunstead's Lightweavers against Kesath; when it was destroyed, Urduja's other son Sintan exploited the disaster to launch a bloody rebellion. Urduja questions whether she can trust another Lightweaver descended from the woman who nearly destroyed Nenavar.

Elagbi defends his daughter, arguing Hanan was manipulated and Talasyn bears no responsibility. Desperate, Talasyn pledges to do whatever Urduja demands. The Dragon Queen agrees to grant sanctuary: the Sardovian fleet may shelter on the uninhabited islands of Sigwad in a remote strait protected by a Tempest Sever, with a fortnight to evacuate their forces. However, Urduja's price is that Talasyn must remain in the capital and assume the role of Lachis'ka—heir to the Dominion throne.

In a private anteroom, Vela is furious, recognizing that Urduja planned this arrangement from the start to solve her succession crisis. Elagbi insists he didn't know, but Vela calls the deal coercion. Despite her anguish at being separated from her comrades, Talasyn declares she will accept and become the Lachis'ka.

Meanwhile, aboard the Kesathese stormship Deliverance, Alaric broods over his failure to find the Sardovian remnant and his inexplicable decision to let Talasyn escape at Lasthaven. He surveys the devastated Heartland cities below and questions whether the cost of victory was worth it. Summoned by his father Gaheris—a physically deteriorated but magically powerful figure—Alaric learns that Gaheris has plans for the southeast but is not yet ready to confront Nenavar. Gaheris then addresses Alaric as "Emperor," signaling a transfer of authority and new responsibilities ahead.