Chaol wakes Celaena early on the first day of training for the competition. Celaena is tired from staying up late to read, and Chaol scolds her for imposing on Dorian for the books, unable to see Celaena as anything other than a dangerous criminal.

In the training room, most of the competitors seem familiar with a variety of weapons. Cain, Perrington’s champion, taunts Celaena, but Chaol warns her not to take the bait. Chaol challenges Celaena to spar with swords to test her skill level and health after the year in Endovier. Chaol and Celaena swordfight, each noting the other’s skillfulness. Chaol trips Celaena and wins the fight, admitting that she is skilled but needs more training. The other competitors are all too busy to notice Celaena, except for Cain, who smiles menacingly. 

Theodus Brullo, the royal Weapons Master and competition judge, arrives to supervise training and asks all the competitors to introduce themselves. Cain announces that he is a soldier in the King’s army from the White Fang Mountains, where the local people are known for their viciousness. The other competitors include some thieves, including Nox Owen, whom Celaena knows; murderers like Bill “Eye Eater” Chastain; and other killers, soldiers, and criminals.