The banquet is disrupted by the arrival of Surakwel Mantes, a young Nenavarene lord who has traveled the Northwest Continent and witnessed the Night Empire's destruction firsthand. Despite attempts by Niamha Langsoune, Daya of Catanduc, to intercept him, Surakwel storms to the head of the table and publicly denounces Queen Urduja's alliance with Alaric, calling Alaric a murderous despot and war criminal. Urduja orders him to remove his weapons and defer his grievances, but Surakwel refuses, arguing that Nenavar should not coddle the Night Empire and that he had warned years ago about the threat Kesath posed.

Niamha quietly explains to Talasyn that Urduja cannot simply silence Surakwel: his family commands one of the largest private armies in the archipelago, he is popular with the younger nobles, and he is connected to House Rasmey, one of Urduja's key allies. Some nobles at the table visibly sympathize with his position. Cornered, Urduja attempts to delay the discussion, but Surakwel escalates by invoking an ancient Dominion tradition—a duel without bounds—formally challenging Alaric. In such a duel, the fight continues until one participant surrenders or dies.

Against the advice of his advisors Mathire and Sevraim, Alaric accepts. Talasyn recognizes the political shrewdness of his terms: rather than demanding a strategic concession, he merely asks that Surakwel show the Night Empire proper respect and stop interfering—positioning himself as measured and Surakwel as reckless. Talasyn reflects on how much has changed between her and Alaric, acknowledging to herself that she no longer wants him to get hurt. Alaric physically moves her aside when she tries to intervene.

The duel is intense and evenly matched. Both men draw blood—Alaric cuts Surakwel's arm, and Surakwel slashes Alaric's thigh. When Alaric disarms Surakwel, the younger lord retrieves his crossbow and fires. Alaric deflects the bolt, which knocks a sariman cage off the wall, breaking the nullification field and restoring Alaric's access to the Shadowgate. Empowered, Alaric forges a shadow-spear and hurls it at Surakwel with lethal intent.

Talasyn, realizing that Surakwel's death would shatter the alliance and provoke rebellion, throws herself between them. She attempts to block the spear with raw Lightweave magic but fails to form a proper shield. Alaric diverts the spear at the last moment, though its edge grazes her arm and cracks the ceiling. Alaric, visibly shaken and furious, orders her to get a healer. He then turns on the assembled Dominion court, declaring that the Nenavarene have treated his delegation with contempt. He demands that Urduja allow him to take Talasyn to Belian to access her nexus point—pointedly calling it her nexus point—and orders the removal of all sariman cages. He issues an ultimatum: negotiations must be finalized by the next day, or the Night Empire and the Dominion will be at war, leaving Nenavar to face the Voidfell alone. Urduja, recognizing the gravity of the threat, silently agrees. Alaric limps out of the hall with his entourage.