Jude holds Cardan at knifepoint and forces the drunken prince to obey her. When Cardan doubts that Jude will hurt him, Jude reveals that Valerian is dead because Jude killed and buried him. Jude frames Cardan as the most important person in Faerie because whoever controls the last free prince controls the succession.

Jude takes Cardan through the hidden passage to the Court of Shadows and ties Cardan to a chair with strips from Jude's dress. Alone in the spies' lair, Jude searches the rooms and Dain's desk for anything that explains Madoc and Balekin's betrayal. Jude recognizes that Dain is dead, that Dain never truly gave Jude power, and that Jude must now seize power herself.

Cardan realizes Jude belongs to the Court of Shadows, and Jude questions Cardan about whether Cardan knew Balekin's coup was coming. Cardan says Cardan did not know, and Jude admits Jude did not know either. Jude removes Cardan's royal signet ring after noticing that the princes' seals seem interchangeable, then begins drafting a message before the Roach and the Ghost return.

The Roach and the Ghost arrive injured and furious, briefly suspecting Jude of siding with Madoc. Jude argues that Cardan's capture proves otherwise. The Ghost wants to kill Cardan to prevent Balekin from being crowned, while the Roach wants to sell Cardan for profit; Jude insists Cardan is Jude's prisoner and that Jude will decide how to use him.

To save himself, Cardan offers information and reveals that Dain was corrupt: Dain poisoned Liriope and her unborn child, manipulated Eldred against the other heirs, pushed Cardan out of the palace, and weakened Eldred with poisoned wine. The Ghost confirms that Dain ordered the poisoning because a prophecy said Liriope's son would prevent Dain from becoming king. The revelation unsettles Jude and changes how the spies see both Dain and Cardan.

Jude considers selling Cardan to Balekin but rejects serving Balekin after recalling Balekin's cruelty and the kind of rule Balekin would bring. Jude decides to return home, pretend ignorance, and learn what Cardan is worth to Madoc and Balekin. Jude leaves Cardan with the Roach and the Ghost under mutual oaths: Jude will return alone within one day and one night, and the spies will keep Cardan alive and present until then.