Under the guise of listening to soldiers’ tales, Chaol and Aedion investigate the three locations they have identified. They learn that all three places are marked with a tower of black stone like the one in the king’s castle.

Manon continues training with the Thirteen but realizes that Abraxos’s wings need mending. She flies to the Ruhnn Mountains and tricks the giant Stygian Spiders into giving her some of their legendary spidersilk.

Despite his reinforced wings, Abraxos refuses to obey Manon and complete the Crossing. Iskra mocks her and whips Abraxos, leading Manon to beat her up. Having heard that Manon defended her wyvern, Petrah later offers her a gesture of friendship.