After discovering Emory Yew missing from his guarded room, Elspeth Spindle and Ravyn Yew rush toward the gardens to search for him. Ravyn explains that Emory sometimes wanders when clever enough to fool the guards, but Ravyn wants family to find Emory before a Physician or Destrier does.

At the garden entrance, King Quercus Rowan appears with Destriers carrying Black Horses and the red glow of his Scythe. Ravyn hides his Nightmare Card and claims he is merely escorting Elspeth to the gardens. The King recognizes Elspeth as Erik Spindle’s daughter, notes that she has made an impression on Ravyn, and leaves them under a cloud of darkness, deepening Elspeth’s anxiety about their false courtship.

In the crowded Equinox gardens, Elspeth spots Emory near the rowan grove, moving erratically between two men carrying White Eagle Cards. Ravyn pushes ahead, but drunken guests knock Elspeth to the ground. Elm Rowan helps her up, protects her from the crowd, and uses his Scythe to command dozens of people to part, giving them a clear path through the chaos.

Elspeth and Elm reach the grove as Emory is struck by one of the men, who accuses him of picking pockets. Ravyn arrives and fights both men while Emory laughs from a tree branch and drops stolen coins onto one attacker’s chest. Watching Emory’s wild behavior, Elspeth realizes his infection is destroying his sanity.

Elm tells Elspeth that Emory’s infection lets him read people’s secrets through touch, explaining Emory’s disturbing vision of Elspeth the previous night. Elm adds that Emory has grown weaker, violent, and changeable over the past two years, especially around Solstice and Equinox. Then Elm reveals that Ravyn is also infected, shocking Elspeth and confirming the Nightmare’s suspicions.

Ravyn defeats the two White Eagle-bearing men, forcing them to cower and surrender their Cards. When the White Eagles touch Ravyn’s hand, their white color disappears, revealing that Ravyn’s own infection or magic has a strange and powerful effect on Providence Cards.