Bound in the kharankui lair, Nesryn stalls the spider leader by asking for one last story. Appealing to her lifelong love of tales and her mother’s nickname for her, Wind-seeker, Nesryn persuades the creature to explain why Maeve is not merely Queen of the Fae but Queen of the Valg.

The spider tells Nesryn that Maeve came from a dark Valg world once ruled by three brother-kings. Maeve married Orcus, the eldest king, but used her power to study other worlds and crossed through a gate with her handmaidens, leaving them in the Dagul pass to guard it while Maeve disappeared into this world.

The spider explains that Orcus and his brothers discovered how to control the world-gate with three keys and invaded worlds while searching for Maeve. Maeve hid among the Fae by invading the minds of Mab, Mora, and their people, making them believe Maeve had always been their eldest sister and queen. Anyone who resisted was eliminated.

Nesryn realizes Maeve’s long life, hidden power, and lack of a Fae form all fit the truth: Maeve is Valg. The spider says Maeve helped defeat the Valg kings because Maeve knew their methods and wanted the keys for herself. Maeve stole them and sent two kings back before Brannon took the keys from her, never fully understanding her origin because Maeve had clouded even his mind.

The spider adds that Maeve feared Brannon’s fire, as all true Valg do, and built defenses in case Erawan rose again and learned Maeve had been in this world all along. While Falkan finishes chewing through Nesryn’s bonds, Nesryn understands that Maeve has spent ages like a spider in a web, using Fae armies and hiding behind lies.

When the spider leader moves to kill Nesryn, another female spider arrives and reports at least twenty ruks on the northern horizon. The leader leaves to confront them and orders the smaller spider to guard the prisoners, but the smaller spider instead whispers for Nesryn and Sartaq to hurry, revealing an unexpected chance to escape.