Over breakfast, Mare’s family explains how Shade got them out of the kingdom and to the base, sneaking them past the patrols and hiding in a cargo ship. The meal reminds her of her last in the Silver court at Maven’s side when she thought they were allies in a coming revolution, and she berates herself for being so wrong about Cal’s brother. After breakfast, Kilorn leads Mare to the infirmary, where Farley occupies the bed beside Shade’s. She starts to tell Mare why the Colonel had Cal taken away, but the Colonel arrives, making a strange quiet descend “on the infirmary, the nurses, my heart, and Farley’s words” (77).

The Colonel reveals Farley’s real name is Diana, and he strips her of her rank for her failures in the kingdom. Mare makes her case to search for the newbloods, and the Colonel reveals that Julian Jacos, who gave Mare the list of newblood names, is still alive, meaning he might be in league with Maven. The Colonel leaves with a warning for Mare to stay in line if she wants Cal to survive, and when he’s gone, Farley gives Mare a key and directions to Barracks 1, saying, “You’ll find I’m remarkably good at giving orders, and particularly awful at following them” (82).