An opening verse recalls the terrible bargains behind the Providence Cards, ending with the Nightmare’s price: a soul. At the Equinox feast, Elspeth watches Ione after Ione has tapped the Maiden Card three times. Ione is now unnaturally beautiful, so altered that Elspeth fears the memory of Ione’s former face is already fading.

Ravyn quietly asks whether Tyrn had the other Nightmare Card, and Elspeth realizes Ravyn’s possession of a Nightmare Card must be hidden from the King. Because that secrecy could make Ravyn a traitor and endanger Elspeth as well, Elspeth demands the truth. Ravyn says he cannot explain alone and agrees to call his council.

Ravyn and Elspeth leave separately and meet in a servants’ corridor before going to Ravyn’s chamber. There, Elspeth sees Ravyn’s disorderly room and his hidden Nightmare Card; Ravyn taps it to contact his family, explaining that the Card requires intense concentration. The Nightmare in Elspeth’s mind mocks Ravyn as a possible traitor and warns that Ravyn’s motives may involve more than collecting Cards.

Before leaving, Ravyn and Elspeth overhear physicians in the corridor discussing Emory, Ravyn’s brother, who is described as volatile, sedated, and dangerous to touch. Ravyn identifies one voice as Orithe Willow, the physician who once searched Elspeth’s family for infection, and Elspeth admits her aunt hid her from him. Ravyn then retrieves a hidden Mirror Card and offers it to Elspeth so she can avoid being seen by Orithe, but Elspeth refuses because touching Cards would expose her own dangerous secret; Ravyn uses the Mirror himself and becomes invisible.

As Elspeth follows the floating lights of Ravyn’s Cards through Stone, Nerium intercepts her and accuses her of risking the family by associating with Ravyn. Nerium calls Elspeth infected like Elspeth’s mother and taunts Elspeth with her father sending her away. Elspeth answers by pointing to her father’s enduring devotion to her dead mother, especially the untouched rooms, irises, and the whitebeam tree he planted, leaving Nerium shaken and silent.

Ravyn, still unseen, comforts Elspeth by wiping away a tear and leads her to the cellar room marked by stags. After warning that the truth will be unpleasant, Ravyn brings Elspeth inside. Jespyr, Elm, Filick, Fenir, and Morette are waiting at a rounded table, with a single chair set out for Elspeth, and the Nightmare recognizes the moment as an inquest.