Taryn refuses to tell Jude what Cardan said that made her cry. Instead, Taryn admits that Jude witnessing her humiliation makes it harder to endure and asks Jude to pretend nothing happened. Taryn urges Jude to placate Cardan by saying he has won, warning that Cardan has too much power and that defiance will only get Jude hurt.

Jude returns to her room and finds her tournament tunic bearing Madoc’s crest. The sight reminds Jude that failing would shame both herself and Madoc’s household, but Madoc’s refusal to let Jude seek knighthood still stings. The next day, Madoc stops Jude in the hall, tells Jude that barring her from glory is for the best, and sends Jude to the Summer Tournament feeling alienated from both Madoc and Faerie.

At the tournament on Insweal, Jude sees the royal family, Madoc, Vivi, Taryn, and Cardan’s circle. Jude fights defensively in the first mock battle, avoiding Cardan, Valerian, Nicasia, and Locke despite provocation. Before the second battle, Cardan taunts Jude with cruel sexual insults about Taryn, and Jude’s resolve to stay restrained collapses.

Jude attacks the silver-banded side ferociously, striking Cardan, staggering Valerian, and helping the gold side win the next two battles. The crowd applauds, but Jude notices that Madoc has left and that no one seems especially impressed. When Jude leaves the field, Cardan confronts Jude, seizes Jude by the face and hair, calls mortality a mark of death, and orders Jude to kneel and beg forgiveness before everyone.

Jude almost obeys because Taryn’s advice makes surrender seem practical, but Jude cannot force out the words. Instead, Jude openly defies Cardan, declaring that humiliation will not control Jude and promising to damage whatever Jude can take from Cardan because Cardan has more to lose. Cardan is stunned into silence, while Nicasia and Valerian react with shock and anger.

Afterward, Jude retreats to a fountain to clean Jude’s injuries. Locke follows, asks if Jude is all right, and says Jude gets under Cardan’s skin like iron. Locke gently wipes Jude’s bruised face and encourages Jude to keep defying Cardan, leaving Jude unsettled by both Cardan’s shocked reaction and Locke’s dangerous attention.