That night, the Ghost takes Jude into the rafters above the great hall, where servants prepare for Prince Dain’s coronation. While they wait for a messenger supposedly sent from Balekin’s estate in false High King’s livery, Jude thinks of Valerian’s corpse under her bed and struggles to keep her attention on the mission. The Ghost explains that their order is to kill the messenger before it reaches the royal quarters.

When Jude spots the disguised creature below, the Ghost tells Jude to shoot. Jude hesitates but fires her miniature crossbow, killing the messenger and scattering the coronation preparations into panic. The Ghost praises Jude’s marksmanship and composure, then notices from Jude’s hands and sweat that Jude has been dosing herself with poison. Jude says mortality forces Jude to try harder, but the Ghost challenges the idea that mortals are inherently lesser.

After the body is removed, Jude and the Ghost steal the messenger’s papers. Jude realizes the dead messenger was female, wore a fake tail, and was one of Madoc’s spies, but Jude does not tell the Ghost. The note contains only the words KILL THE BEARER OF THIS MESSAGE, making the Ghost conclude that Balekin set a trap to distract them before the coronation. He warns Jude to be alert the next day.

Near dawn, Jude returns home and secretly buries Valerian near the stables. Exhausted and injured, Jude rolls the body from Jude’s balcony, drags it away from the house, and digs a grave before the household can discover what happened.

The next afternoon, Jude prepares for the coronation while hiding Jude’s wounded hand under gloves and bruised throat under a choker. Vivienne unexpectedly plans to attend, partly to see the rulers of Faerie gathered and partly to learn the identity of Taryn’s secret suitor. Jude worries the suitor could be someone dangerous from Cardan’s circle, though Taryn has said Jude would like him.

Madoc then asks to speak with Jude alone and gives Jude a silver sword named Nightfell. Madoc reveals that the sword was forged by Jude’s father, Justin Duarte, who once lived in Faerie and made fey blades before running away with Jude’s mother. Madoc speaks fondly of Jude’s mother’s daring and of Justin’s skill, admits there is little good in himself, and says he owes Jude a debt. Jude cannot forgive Madoc but cannot hate him either, and after Madoc leaves, Jude straps on the sword before the coronation.