Archer lunges at Celaena with a dagger and pleads for mercy, offering to pay her if she lets him go. Celaena tells him the king believes he’s part of a rebel movement, but Archer denies his involvement, saying he’s not a traitor. Archer says he does, however, know about a group gaining power that wants to restore Aelin Galathynius, the lost heir to the Terrasen throne. Celaena offers Archer a deal: He can fake his death now or in a month, after his affairs are in order. Either way, he must leave Rifthold and never use his name again. He chooses to go in a month, seeing this as a chance to be free of Madame Clarisse. Archer also informs Celaena that there is a ball at his client’s house tomorrow tonight that could provide her with answers to her questions and access to the rebels. He tells her he can sneak her in, so she asks him to send the details to the castle the next morning.

Upon returning to the castle, Celaena goes to Chaol’s room and tells him about the ball, confirming that there is indeed a movement against the king.