After lunch, Yrene and Chaol go to the Torre library to examine the Eyllwe texts and scrolls that Nousha had found. Chaol handles riding and moving through the Torre with growing ease, and Yrene is encouraged by his progress: feeling and movement have returned to his foot from the ankle down. At the library, Nousha reluctantly directs them to the relevant shelves deep in the lower levels.

As Yrene and Chaol descend through the ancient Torre, Yrene explains that the tower is fifteen hundred years old, built by an ancient queen for a healer who saved her child. This history leads Yrene to question why Adarlan's king destroyed healers and magic-wielders on his continent, since such people are valuable to any ruler.

Chaol reveals that the King of Adarlan was truly possessed by Valg and that the man inside him had fought back in terrible ways. According to Chaol, the king halted magic and ordered gifted people killed because the Valg wanted magic-wielders as hosts and weapons. Yrene is shaken by the idea that her mother's murder and the destruction of so many gifted people came from a twisted attempt to deny the Valg power, not merely hatred.

Chaol warns that healers may possess something the Valg want, or something they fear healers will discover, especially because Yrene can combat the darkness in his wound. He also confirms that the Wyrdmarks Yrene showed him are part of an older power outside ordinary magic. Aware they may be watched or overheard, Yrene deflects with a false remark about toe fungus while Chaol begins gathering books.

Meanwhile, Nesryn and Sartaq land with Kadara in the Asimil Mountains on their way to the rukhin. The campsite is exposed but defensible, and Sartaq explains that Kadara's saddle stays on in case danger forces a quick escape. Over a cold meal without a fire, they discuss wyverns, ruks, titles, living legends, Aelin, Aedion, and the intelligence Sartaq's spies have gathered.

Sartaq reveals that his spies know about Nesryn's impossible shot that saved a shape-shifter and that they call her Neith's Arrow. Nesryn reflects that she never sought fame, only the purpose and direction archery gave her restless nature. Beneath unfamiliar southern stars, as Sartaq tends to the camp, Nesryn privately smiles at the thought that stories about her may already be spreading.