Exhausted after the confrontation with Duva and the hurried return to Antica, Nesryn leaves Chaol and Yrene in privacy and heads toward Kadara’s minaret. Sartaq and Hasar have gone to speak with the khagan, and Nesryn thinks of the new arrivals who will need quarters, including Borte and Falkan.

A breathless page delivers a letter from Nesryn’s uncle, dated two weeks earlier. After reading it, Nesryn races to Salkhi, the reddish-brown ruk whose fallen rider will never return and whom Nesryn claimed at the Eridun aerie. Nesryn flies Salkhi through Antica to the Runni Quarter, where her father, sister, and sister’s children emerge from her uncle’s house; overcome, Nesryn falls to her knees weeping.

Two hours later, Nesryn has reunited with her family, who explain their dangerous voyage to Antica and their intention to remain there during the war. As Nesryn’s father escorts Nesryn back outside, Sartaq waits beside Salkhi with Kadara. Sartaq greets Sayed Faliq respectfully, while the children swarm toward the ruks; Kadara and Salkhi gently lower themselves, allowing the children to touch them.

Sartaq asks Nesryn to walk with him, and they move into the alley behind her uncle’s home. Nesryn fears his conversation with the khagan may have ended badly because Sartaq is royal and she is common-born. Sartaq explains that he told his father he would lead the rukhin against Erawan regardless of permission, partly because Nesryn is going to war and he loves her.

Sartaq reveals that when the khagan argued an heir should marry someone of rank or political advantage, Sartaq said he did not want to be Heir if that was the price. Before Sartaq could leave, the khagan appointed Sartaq Heir anyway. Sartaq stops Nesryn from bowing and promises that after the war, they will return to Antica together. Nesryn answers that they will go to war first and then see what comes after, while Delara loudly celebrates having predicted Nesryn’s feelings.