Chaol wakes Celaena from a nightmare about Endovier. Training is canceled because it is Samhuinn, the autumn holiday when “the gods and the dead are closest to the earth” (162). He forbids her from attending the Samhuinn feast that night, much to her annoyance. Celaena declines to attend temple celebrations for the holiday, and Chaol reminds her that she has another Test the next day.

Dorian runs into Nehemia and Celaena. He wants to tell her about Perrington’s plan to make Nehemia a hostage while redoubling Adarlan’s invasion of Eyllwe, but he knows he can’t warn Nehemia without Perrington finding out. Instead, he asks Nehemia to the Samhuinn feast, but when Nehemia asks “Lillian” to come, Dorian makes up an excuse rather than defying Chaol’s wishes and inviting Celaena.

Later, Nehemia tells Chaol there is no moral difference between being a solider or a guard. Celaena diffuses the tension by joking about Chaol reclaiming the title he abdicated, and Chaol is touched that Celaena remembers his story and notes her use of the word friend about him.

Celaena sees Cain kneeling by the clock tower, examining one of the marks in the tile. Nehemia identifies the mark as a Wyrdmark, “part of an ancient religion that died long ago” (169).