After Harrow wakes from collapsing in Laboratory Two, Gideon brings her back to their quarters and prevents her from immediately retrying the trial. Over bread and crusts, Harrow explains that the regenerating construct is animated by woven necromantic theorems; Harrow must identify and unravel the weak points through Gideon’s living senses while Gideon fights, which is difficult because Gideon’s perceptions are noisy and distracting.

Jeannemary and Isaac slip an invitation under the Ninth House door: Abigail Pent and Magnus Quinn of the Fifth House are hosting a dinner for their eleventh wedding anniversary. Harrow initially refuses, suspecting poison and resenting the delay to the trial, but Gideon persuades Harrow that attending is politically useful and promises to behave.

That evening, Gideon notices Harrow is unusually nervous while dressing in formal Ninth robes and bone ornaments. At the dinner, Magnus warmly welcomes them, Abigail greets them in the kitchen, and Teacher chats with Harrow and Gideon about Abigail’s abilities, the Fourth House teenagers, and the Fifth House’s connection to them. The Third and Sixth Houses arrive together, and the guests are seated in an arrangement that separates Gideon from Harrow.

Magnus opens with a joke about all cavaliers sharing the middle name “the,” breaking the awkward tension. The meal is generous and successful, and conversations spread across the table: Abigail discusses her research into Lyctoral records with Dulcinea and Palamedes, Ianthe spars verbally with Naberius while discussing her birth, and Jeannemary nervously asks Gideon about Gideon’s biceps. Gideon eats happily, enjoying rare fullness and the easy atmosphere.

After dessert, Gideon speaks with Dulcinea, who observes that the Houses remain suspicious despite long peace and questions what they are competing for. Palamedes brings Dulcinea tea and regards Dulcinea with intense medical curiosity before leaving. Harrow then abruptly retrieves Gideon and rushes out.

On the way out, Harrow reveals why the evening has become urgent: Abigail asked an Eighth House adept whether the Eighth knew how to access the lower floors, and the answer was yes. Harrow concludes Abigail is another serious competitor and insists that the Ninth must make up time before Abigail reaches the trial chamber herself.