The Prioress is dead, and the mantle of Prioress passes to Esbar. As news of the Hróthi plague reaches the Priory, Esbar calls the community together and declares war against the wyrms. Afterwards, Canthe tells Tuva and Esbar that Siyu left, and they find a note explaining that she found the body of Anyso. Tuva cannot let her go and pursues her without Esbar’s blessing.

Glorian is crushed with the news of her parents’ death as burnt bits of wood wash up on the Inysh coast. Glorian is summoned to meet with the Dukes Spiritual, the highest council, and is told that she will assume the title of Queen of Inys with Lord Robart as Lord Protector until Glorian’s 18th birthday.

Weeks pass since the dragons of Seiiki woke and still no wyrms have arrived on their shores. Doubts, fueled by the River Lord, are rising about Dumai’s intentions. Dumai must find answers, and invites Nikeya to join her on the trip to the Empire of the Twelve Lakes to find the alchemist Kiprun.