Kaan and Chief Thron study the village’s destruction shortly after Kaan slaughters the rabid dragon. The Chief thanks Kaan for his service and invites him to eat dinner with his family later. Afterward, Kaan speaks with Grihm, who requests leave to raid the nest of the Great Silver Sabersythe, who is rumored to have recently laid a trio of eggs. Kaan grants his request, though the risk it poses to Grihm’s life weighs heavy on his chest.

After eight days of travel with her dragon, Zekhi, Veya enters The Fade. Her usual hired escort, Noeve, leads her through treacherous paths that allow them to travel unnoticed. Noeve tells Veya that the Queen attempted to stall an execution of a member of the Fíur du Ath, which angered King Cadok. When Noeve inquires about the reason for Veya’s travel, Veya admits that she left something important in Gore 100 years ago that she wishes to retrieve. She tossed a bangle down a rubbish chute, and she believes that it is now in the hands of a velvet trogg—a long, lanky creature with blue, velvet skin that likes to hoard and feast on the memories contained within trash.