Yrene spends the day in the slums and heals six people before sunset. Her patients include a woman with a fatal lung growth, feverish children, a man with a badly treated broken leg, and a sixteen-year-old girl with injuries from abuse. Yrene heals the girl beneath the surface while leaving the visible bruising so the girl can return home without immediately exposing the change, then tells her the Torre will protect her if she ever comes for help.

Though exhausted and hungry, Yrene still feels restless and angry over Chaol ending their earlier session. After delaying with food and kahve, Yrene goes to the palace late at night, intending to confront Chaol because Yrene refuses to let him abandon their progress without a fight.

In the palace corridors, Yrene hears footsteps behind her and senses danger. A voice she recognizes as her dead mother’s urges her to hurry, and Yrene sprints for Chaol’s suite while the pursuer runs after her. Yrene reaches Chaol’s door, locks it just as the attacker slams into it, and warns Chaol to get inside his bedroom.

Chaol instantly shifts into command. Chaol locks the bedroom, orders Yrene to barricade the door, and secures the garden doors while Yrene blocks possible entrances with furniture. Chaol arms himself and gives Yrene a dagger, teaching her to control fear and prepare to strike if the attacker breaks through.

The creature outside speaks Yrene’s name in a soft, inhuman voice, confirming Yrene’s fear that a Valg has been hunting her. Chaol refuses to let Yrene panic, tells her they will face it together, and steadies her until Yrene regains control. Before the creature enters, guards arrive after a servant notices the damaged suite door; the attacker is gone, and Yrene tells the guards that she and Chaol are unharmed.