After Conor refuses to hear Lin's warnings about Kel and the Malgasi conspiracy, Lin leaves Marivent in shock and walks to the Black Mansion. She expects to report failure to Andreyen, Ji-An, and Merren, but finds Aron Benjudah waiting. Aron confirms that Lin remains exiled, yet says he has come because some truths matter more than Ashkar law.

Aron kneels before Lin and acknowledges her as the promised Goddess, offering himself as her guardian. Aron explains that, when Lin healed Mariam, he finally felt the recognition promised to the Exilarch: he saw the fire of the Goddess in Lin and believes the destruction in the Sault came from uncontrolled power, not false divinity. Aron urges Lin to undergo the Ordeal of Bitter Water in the Halls of Hewn Stone so Lin can bind herself properly to her Source-Stone and master its magic.

When Lin doubts herself and her exile, Aron calls on Asher, and Andreyen reveals that he is Asher Benezar, the Maharam's long-exiled son. Andreyen breaks his staff and removes a hidden vellum prayer Aron once gave him, proving he never stopped considering himself Ashkar. With Ji-An and Merren's support, Andreyen tells Lin that claiming the name of Goddess requires courage, and Aron warns that the Black Rose sails for Jiqal at dawn. Because Malgasi magic threatens everyone Lin loves, Lin chooses the ordeal and agrees to leave Castellane.

The narrative shifts to Kel in the Trick after Conor's departure. Kel is not angry, because Falconet's trap has made Conor's options nearly impossible and because Kel understands Conor's fear of hope. After a fitful sleep, Kel finds a silver key on his food tray, unlocks his cell, and throws the key to another prisoner to create confusion before escaping through a high window.

Using his Crawling skills, Kel climbs down the outside of the Trick, reaches the ground, and tries to evade the Castelguards. Conor intercepts him near the cliff edge. Kel thinks Conor means to kill him as King Markus killed Fausten, but Conor embraces him briefly, places a cold medallion around his neck, says Kel is his unbreakable armor and will not die, then shoves Kel from the cliff into the sea.

Kel survives the fall and swims desperately through crocodile-filled water toward the harbor. When crocodiles corner him on the beach, Kel realizes Conor put the protective amulet around his neck, the same charm once worn by Artal Gremont. The crocodiles retreat from the amulet's power, confirming Conor engineered Kel's escape rather than his death, and Kel collapses on the shore.