After rounds with Aron, Lin prepares to go to the Black Mansion for King Markus’s medicine and finds a note from Conor saying, “We must talk.” Disturbed by the message and by memories of the night before, Lin burns the note and leaves.

At the Castel Mitat, Kel plays Triumph with a distracted Conor and recalls that Andreyen was annoyed that Kel, Merren, and Ji-An had offered Ciprian Cabrol the Ragpicker King’s protection. Anjelica storms in, furious that Kurame saw Conor with a commoner in a folly during the Solstice Ball. Conor first deflects, then admits his conduct was a mistake and apologizes, while Anjelica warns that any public scandal would shame her more than him.

After Anjelica leaves, Kel presses Conor about the woman’s identity, but Conor refuses to answer. On the tower, Conor admits he feels trapped by the marriage alliance because without Kutani, Castellane may fall to Sarthe and its people may die. Anjelica then rides Sedai to the offending folly and has the elephant crush it, making her anger public but contained. Conor laughs briefly, then tells Kel that when he becomes King, he will lose the one real thing in his life: Kel’s role as his double and constant companion. Conor decides he must be sure of something and leaves.

Back in the Sault, Lin cannot study for the Goddess test because she is overwhelmed by memories of Conor and by questions about the King’s blood awakening her Source-Stone. Conor comes to her house in disguise, and Lin lets him in to avoid public notice. They argue over whether their night together was a mistake. Conor admits he cannot marry Lin because his life belongs to Castellane, but he offers to make her his discreet mistress with money and a house in the Silver Streets.

Lin refuses because leaving the Sault for such a life would be exile from her people, and because she wants more than fragments of Conor’s time and self. Conor confesses that his desire for Lin has made him neglect his duties, but Lin will not ask him to cancel his marriage or risk the alliance. When Conor raises the possibility of a child, Lin tells him she has already taken steps to prevent pregnancy. Hurt and emptied, Conor accepts the medicine for King Markus and leaves.

Soon after, Oren Kandel arrives to tell Lin that the Exilarch has set her test for the next day at sundown, and he makes clear that he expects her to fail. Later, Kel works out his anger in the Hayloft, blaming Conor, the political trap around him, and his own failure to understand both Conor and Antonetta. Anjelica finds Kel there and apologizes for forcing him to witness her confrontation with Conor. She says she will tell Conor about Laurent, and Kel is left worrying that Anjelica and his Black Mansion allies may all vanish from his life once they no longer need him.