Disguised in a servant’s gown, Jude enters the Palace of Elfhame with disturbing ease. Because servants are ignored, Jude reaches Prince Dain’s chambers despite getting lost, delivers the copied letter from Balekin’s house, and hides that Jude also stole a book for herself.

Dain praises Jude’s natural deception and asks whether Jude enjoyed the work. Jude first thinks only of fear, but realizes spying offered a clearer danger than the constant, shapeless dread of court life. Jude answers that she liked doing a good job.

Dain summons the Roach, a scarred goblin who serves among Dain’s spies. Dain studies Jude’s copy and concludes that Balekin has been blackmailing Queen Orlagh of the Undersea, Nicasia’s mother, into supplying poison. The Roach believes Balekin may use it before the coronation, and Jude understands the likely target is Dain. When Jude asks about Princess Elowyn, the Roach suggests Balekin might marry her instead of killing her, revealing that Elowyn may be more dangerous than Jude assumed.

Before Jude can leave with the Roach, Dain uses his right under their bargain to bind Jude with a geas. Dain forbids Jude from speaking, writing, singing, or otherwise revealing Jude’s service, the Roach, the spies, their secrets, meeting places, or safe houses while Dain lives. The compulsion horrifies Jude and makes Jude question serving Dain, though Dain presents it as necessary. Dain then suggests that Jude look into “mithridatism.”

The Roach leads Jude through the palace while Jude keeps distance to avoid notice. The Roach takes Jude into a cupboard that opens into damp hidden passages above the wine cellars, revealing a secret network beneath the palace. After testing Jude’s sight and paranoia, the Roach brings Jude through a concealed door into an underground room where two unfamiliar faeries wait. The Roach names the place the Court of Shadows.