When she doesn’t answer Patrick’s question, he asks again. She tells him she is looking for the Alchemist. He says that despite what Otto told Polly and what Polly told Nina, she’d only find Otto and Scottie off searching for Theo in these tunnels. Nina explains she was going to tell Tanner where the Alchemist was to barter for their parents, and Patrick informs her that they cannot trade him because he is dead. Patrick killed him two years ago and has regretted it ever since.

Patrick sees Nina unraveling as she struggles to believe what is happening. She asks how they had bluff and idium if the Alchemist is dead, and Patrick admits that he is an Alchemist.

Patrick explains further: Only his family knows that he is an Alchemist. Two years ago, his father told him to kill the Alchemist so that Patrick would be the only Alchemist in Belavere. Then they would leverage this power, give Tanner a list of demands, and end the war. Instead, his father was captured. Because no names have come out, they know his father hasn’t spoken. The lie that they have Domelius Becker is the only thing keeping them safe.

Nina still does not tell Patrick about the raid so that she can give Polly time to flee Kenton Hill. Patrick promises Nina that he will save her mother and come home safe. He tells her that he plans to marry her.

Patrick tries to forgive Nina for this deception, and he even blames himself. In the morning, they have sex, trying to ignore the outside world.

Nina tells Polly that she’s going to tell Patrick about the raid and that he will know that Polly is the one communicating with Tanner. Despite this, Nina says she trusts Patrick not to hurt them.

At the inn, Nina finds Gunner, Donny, and Tess. There is silent tension, and Tess soon explains that Patrick told Nina their secret. Tess says that if she leaves now, they’ll have to find her, dead or alive. Nina warns him about the danger of threatening an earth Charmer, and Donny manipulates a bullet toward Nina that stops in front of her nose, revealing that he is a Smith. Nina tells them she loves Patrick, and Tess welcomes her to the family. Gunner tells her that he is also a Smith; his medium is copper.

For the rest of the day, Nina worries in her room and waits for Patrick to return.

Patrick waits in Baymouth to meet an associate who never arrives. An hour after they were supposed to meet, a disheveled woman with bloodstained clothes reports that their town was raided, and at least 1,000 people are dead. Patrick vows to come back with bluff the next day to help. She tells him that the army said they were heading north and advises him to run rather than try to fight. Patrick tells her that the army won’t make it to Kenton Hill. Privately, he thinks about the only way in and runs home terrified.

Polly’s missive to Tanner shows the maps to the tunnels to enter Kenton Hill. She tells him that the Alchemist is dead and urges him to come to peaceful terms with the union.

Waiting in her room, Nina senses the start of the raid before it happens. When she is sure they’ve arrived, she rushes downstairs. Soon the streets are filled with civilians, some with guns. The lord’s troops pile out of Margarite’s, and the fire Charmers set nearly every building ablaze. Gunner gives orders while Patrick is still nowhere to be found. Gunner asks Nina if she is responsible for this, and she says no, but he knocks her out with the butt of his pistol.

Patrick emerges to see Kenton Hill at war. He sees grenades, soldiers, and fire spreading quickly. If the fire spreads to the Coal Works, it will explode, and they will all die. Out of an alley, Theo emerges. He came back to ensure Patrick has not hurt Nina because of the bitter note on which he left. Patrick aims to shoot him, but Theo says he will help him stop the fires. They run toward the Coal Works with Donny. Their worry mounts as they reach an impasse with over 20 soldiers pointing guns at the them. They shoot Patrick in the shoulder, and Theo yells that he is Lord Shop’s son and an Artisan. A woman asks Theo about the earth Charmer and confirms all of Patrick’s worst fears: they know Domelius Becker is dead and that Patrick is the last Alchemist. They ask for Patrick’s location, and Theo points to him just before raising a deluge of water to kill the soldiers.

Patrick asks Theo if Tanner sent Nina. Theo says yes, but that Patrick is the reason she stayed. Patrick decides not to kill Theo because Theo has proven that he loves Nina. He tells Theo to put out the rest of the fires so that he has time to decide his fate.

Nina wakes up in a bunker and figures a way out. Immediately, Artisan soldiers recognize her as the earth Charmer and begin leading her back to Margarite’s. Suddenly, Theo’s water attack rushes down upon them. Nina is thrown from their grasp, and when it’s over, she sees Patrick with a gun to his own head. He says that he is the last living Alchemist and demonstrates his ability on a piece of terranium. He says if all the soldiers leave, he will go with them willingly. If they keep fighting, he will shoot himself in the head. A general agrees, and civilians begin retreating to the hills with their families while soldiers retreat into the tunnel. Nina embraces Patrick and then turns herself in. Patrick threatens the general and tells him to leave Nina, but the general, revealing himself as a Smith, rips away Patrick’s gun. He plans to take them both. Gunner lunges toward them and is stabbed in midair.

Their hands tied, Nina and Patrick are led into the tunnels. They hear Gunner’s cries cease before they enter the pit. Waiting for the shaft, they see that two Artisan soldiers have captured Theo. Nina tells herself they will find a way out. She says Patrick’s name, and he puts his arm on her throat, saying, “If there was ever a small part of you that loved me […] Then you will sink this tunnel. Bury us all” (470). The soldiers hit Patrick with a baton, and Nina hears a canary sing from below.