The Luminaries Dinner is not held in the courtyard. Verity subtly pries guards for information and discovers witches are kept in the seventh circle of the prison, past Fortitude Gate—the furthest place from the prison entrance. Verity also discovers that prison guards carry access coins corresponding to the section they work in, which act as keys “getting you where you’re authorized to be, but no further” (255). Witch hunters carry coins for Fortitude Gate for the convenience it offers when they bring witches in.

Laila Creed marches Seraphine Oakes to a purging platform in the courtyard’s center. Though Seraphine and Rune’s Nan grew up together and Rune’s Nan was over 70 when she was executed, Seraphine looks no older than 23. The sight perplexes Rune. The Good Commander invites Rune to the platform and gives her the honor of purging Seraphine herself.

Laila Creed hands Rune a purging knife, and Rune’s mind races through ways to save Seraphine without condemning herself. Meanwhile, Seraphine spits at Rune in hatred and says her Nan would be ashamed of her. Just as Rune decides to risk a casting scar to spell the illusion of fire as a distraction for Seraphine to escape, a pillar of actual spellfire emerges and throws the dinner into chaos.