As Wayland Pine’s party approaches through the Black Forest, Elspeth sees the moss-green light of the Iron Gate in the first carriage. The plan becomes far more dangerous when Hauth Rowan arrives with Destriers, four Black Horse Cards, and a Scythe Card. Ravyn is surprised but refuses to withdraw because the group needs the Card, so Elspeth identifies its location and Ravyn uses the Mirror Card to turn invisible.

Jespyr, Elm, and the Ivys block the road with rope-tethered arrows, forcing the carriages and riders to halt. In the chaos, Elspeth guides Ravyn toward Wayland Pine after the Iron Gate moves into Pine’s cloak. Ravyn releases Elspeth and sends her back toward the trees while he goes for the Card, but Elspeth collides with her father, Erik Spindle, who is fighting Elm beside the second carriage.

Erik nearly kills Elm, so Elspeth throws a rock with the Nightmare’s help and knocks Erik off balance. When Erik turns on Elspeth and throws a dagger, the Nightmare floods Elspeth’s body with unnatural speed, catches the dagger, kicks Erik down, and threatens him. Erik does not recognize Elspeth because her eyes are yellow, but a panicked horse knocks Elspeth down before the confrontation can continue.

Jespyr pulls Elspeth into the mist, but a Destrier attacks them. Jespyr defeats him, yet loses her protective charm and begins succumbing to the mist’s dark magic, growing blind, disoriented, and drawn deeper into the forest. Elspeth, who left her own charm behind, frees Jespyr from vines and runs to find Ravyn’s spare charm before the Spirit of the Wood can claim Jespyr.

Lost in the mist, Elspeth encounters Hauth Rowan and other Destriers recovering their fallen man. Hauth feigns leaving, then ambushes Elspeth, grabs her wrist, and breaks it while demanding her identity. The Nightmare reacts violently through Elspeth, clawing Hauth from shoulder to jaw, allowing Elspeth to flee until she finds Ravyn, who has successfully taken the Iron Gate.

Elspeth warns Ravyn about Hauth and tells him Jespyr has lost her charm. Ravyn, Elspeth, and Jon Thistle return to Jespyr, and Ravyn’s charm restores his sister to herself. The group regathers, confirms Pine fled and Ravyn captured the Iron Gate, and learns Erik Spindle was present. Ravyn binds Elspeth’s broken wrist, and when he asks how Elspeth escaped Hauth, Elspeth answers with the Nightmare’s dark confidence that perhaps Hauth escaped her.