Chaol, shaken by Hasar’s earlier news that Maeve’s fleet had found Aelin’s host, demands to know what happened. Hasar first toys with him, then reveals that Maeve was defeated in a major naval battle against Aelin’s cobbled-together human force.

Hasar reports the battle’s decisive turns: a third of Maeve’s armada, flying Whitethorn flags, betrayed Maeve and joined Terrasen; Dorian fought on the front lines with Rowan; and a pack of wyverns arrived to fight for Aelin. Chaol assumes Manon Blackbeak was somehow responsible for the wyverns, and he recognizes rumors of ice, wind, water, and shape-shifting as signs of Dorian, Rowan, and Lysandra.

Hasar adds that neither Aelin’s flame nor Maeve’s darkness appeared in the fleet, though witnesses saw flickers of flame and shadow onshore. Chaol concludes that Aelin likely moved her private battle with Maeve away from the ships to reduce casualties. Aelin was later seen returning to her armada, while Maeve vanished without clear trace.

Chaol asks where Aelin’s victorious force is headed, needing to know where to find Dorian. Hasar says Aelin is likely sailing north to Terrasen, now with both her own fleet and reinforcements from the Silent Assassins of the Red Desert.

Hasar then reveals the largest reinforcement: Wendlyn sent its entire armada under Crown Prince Galan. Chaol and Yrene are overwhelmed with hope as they realize how many allies Aelin has gathered. Hasar explains that Aelin once wrote to her asking for aid from one princess to another, promising what Hasar calls a better world.