In the hidden cellar council room beneath the King’s walls, Elspeth identifies three Providence Cards besides Ravyn’s: Elm’s Scythe, Jespyr’s Chalice, and Morette Yew’s Prophet. Fenir Yew introduces the council and says Elspeth must first prove her trustworthiness before learning why they are collecting Cards.

Elspeth is made to choose between the Scythe, Chalice, and Nightmare as the means of testing her honesty. Urged by the Nightmare, she chooses Elm’s Scythe. Elm uses the Card to manipulate Elspeth’s emotions, first making her euphoric, then forcing her into despair and the urge to hurt herself. Ravyn stops Elm when the testing becomes cruel.

Under the Scythe’s influence, Fenir questions Elspeth about her past: her infection at age nine, Erik Spindle’s decision to send her to Hawthorn House instead of reporting her, and Tyrn Hawthorn’s long possession of a Nightmare Card. The council is shocked to learn Tyrn had the Card for eleven years, and Morette concludes he waited to trade it for the right price: Ione’s marriage into the royal line.

Ravyn and the others press Elspeth about trust, her magic, and how she fought so effectively. The Scythe pushes Elspeth toward confession, but the Nightmare reveals that the Scythe cannot control him and helps loosen Elm’s hold on her mind. Elspeth lies successfully, claiming she has no other magic beyond seeing Providence Cards, though Ravyn appears suspicious.

After Elspeth swears secrecy of her own will, Ravyn and the council reveal their true goal: they are collecting the Deck to cure infection and free Blunder from the mist, but they are not working with King Rowan. Fenir explains that once the King has the Nightmare, he needs only the lost Twin Alders Card and infected blood to unite the Deck. Elm reveals the King intends to use Emory’s blood, meaning Emory is infected and effectively a captive.

Jespyr explains that the council still needs the Well, the Iron Gate, and the lost Twin Alders, and that Elspeth’s ability gives them an advantage. She urges Elspeth to help cure Emory and herself. Though Elspeth is disturbed by the need for a blood sacrifice and by the magnitude of finding a Card lost for centuries, she recognizes the strength of the magic within her and agrees to help find the Twin Alders for the promise of a cure.