Yrene returns to Chaol Westfall’s suite on time the next morning, despite her resentment toward Adarlan and her discomfort over Kashin’s continued presence at court. Her thoughts reveal that she has avoided Kashin after an awkward incident on the steppes because she does not want the dangerous future attached to marrying into the khagan’s bloodline.

Yrene finds Chaol and Nesryn tense with each other. After saying she has decided to try to heal Chaol, Yrene advises Nesryn to use the treatment hours for her own business. When Nesryn says she plans to follow up on invitations, Chaol asks Nesryn to send word this time, revealing his worry after Nesryn’s unexplained absence the night before.

Once Nesryn leaves, Yrene warns Chaol that the palace servants may report to the khagan’s children or viziers. Their conversation turns sharply to slavery, Adarlan, and Chaol’s service to the old king. Chaol insists that Dorian abolished the labor camps and slave trade, and admits he regrets choices in his past but wants to help fix them.

Yrene begins a fuller examination on the sitting-room couch rather than in Chaol’s bedroom, partly to avoid impropriety. Yrene notes that Chaol has kept his upper body strong but that his legs are beginning to atrophy from disuse. Yrene explains that healing will require both magic and physical training so Chaol’s legs can support him if he walks again.

When Yrene touches the mark on Chaol’s spine with her magic, Yrene encounters a cold, oily, unnatural darkness that recoils from her healing power but seems to awaken and reach for her. Shaken, Yrene demands to know what caused the wound. Chaol cannot speak freely near listening servants, so Yrene massages Chaol’s neck and shoulders while Chaol whispers about Wyrdgates, Wyrdstone, Wyrdhounds, the Valg, Erawan, collars, and Perrington’s alliance with them, while withholding some deeper secrets.

Yrene decides she must research the Valg residue before attempting deeper treatment. Chaol asks about payment, and Yrene says healing is a gift from Silba and should not be charged for. Their conversation turns personal: Yrene admits she plans to leave Antica and return to help in the war, while Chaol explains that he once protected the status quo to keep Dorian alive but now wants to destroy Perrington and the Valg. Yrene warns that facing the emotional consequences of Chaol’s injury will be part of healing, but Chaol resists as Yrene leaves.