Ravyn leads Elspeth through the mist by an old rope and into Stone through a hidden, cobwebbed door. Elspeth fears he might take her to the King’s dungeon, a place tied to rumors of infected children being burned, but Ravyn notices her terror and promises he will never bring her there.

Instead, Ravyn brings Elspeth through servants’ passages to a secret cellar marked with carved stags. Two hounds snarl at Elspeth on sight, reinforcing her belief that animals dislike her, but Ravyn restrains them. Ravyn leaves Elspeth locked inside, and the Nightmare warns that Ravyn knows she is infected, knows she recognized Providence Cards, and will likely test the magic in her head.

Ravyn returns with Jespyr Yew and Filick Willow, a Physician. Elspeth panics at the sight of Filick because Physicians normally expose and condemn infected people, but Ravyn insists Filick will not report her. Filick questions Elspeth about her infection, and Elspeth decides to conceal the Nightmare while telling a partial truth: she says her magic lets her see the colored signatures of Providence Cards, even through mist.

Elspeth’s claim shocks Ravyn, Jespyr, and Filick. Jespyr begins to say that this ability is exactly what they need to find something, but Filick interrupts to warn that infection magic is degenerative and always has a cost. Elspeth admits she does not know the full extent of her degeneration.

Prince Renelm Rowan, called Elm, then enters with a red Scythe Card, whose power of persuasion makes Elspeth and the Nightmare deeply wary. The Nightmare’s hatred of the Rowans surges as Elspeth recalls that the family controls the Scythes and uses corrupted teachings to dominate Blunder. When Elm calls Elspeth by the false name Jayne Yarrow, she realizes he was the second highwayman who attacked her with Ravyn; furious, she refuses to say anything more unless Elm and his Scythe leave.