Imelda receives a wristlet that tracks the racers and displays the top three. In the powder room, Imelda is filled with anger; she will never go back to being a pawn for the Ashlords. She selects her components: “Ivory of Earl, Gold, Revelrust, Kisspowder, and Silvertongue” (316). She expects to be in trouble for selecting five of the most valuable components, but nothing happens. She hopes that the online Chats focus on speculating about what brilliant rebirth she has planned, rather than the value.

Imelda only has a short time to get acquainted with her phoenix—another disadvantage. She fights back the feeling of unfairness. She is here to break the Races, not win them. She rides out to meet the other racers at the starting gate.

Pippa is not the only rider with a spirit: Etzli and Revel have also sought help from the Madness. Spectators cheer from circular screens along the walls, and Quinn mistakes them for demons. Pippa laughs, explaining that they are her fans. She raises her hand, and the cheering increases.

A gunshot sounds, and the Races begin. As planned, Pippa and Bravos startle their horses. The other riders fly past. They do not yet know that she and Bravos are working together, but it will be a popular topic on the Chats. Quinn falls into rhythm with Pippa’s riding as they make their way to the secret path that Pippa discovered on the map. Pippa admires how handsome Bravos looks. As their path takes them up the mesa’s flatlands, it is Pippa’s phoenix’s time to shine. Bravos’s horse, built for hunting, gladly follows along in Pippa’s wake.

Imelda focuses on survival during the first stretch of the Races. Adrian takes an early lead, followed closely by Etzli and Revel. Thyma, Capri, and Darvin are close behind Imelda, but she keeps ahead of them for several hours. Thyma catches up and attempts to force Imelda into the wall as the course narrows, but Imelda is prepared. Her Changing Skies rebirth allows her horse to run up the side of the wall, ignoring the effects of gravity. Out of danger, Imelda guides her horse along the lip of the canyon, an area unintended for riding. She smiles at the cameras, hoping that the audience will continue to underestimate her.

Etzli tests Adrian’s lead, and she narrowly escapes the fangs of Adrian’s phoenix’s Ravenous rebirth. There is a flash of blue light as Etzli skirts the danger. Revel, who is known to be skilled at high-speed racing, takes advantage of Adrian’s distraction as he assesses the path ahead and passes him. However, Longhands are skilled with whips. Adrian’s whip catches Revel around the neck. They collide, and Adrian’s phoenix bites into Revel’s phoenix’s neck, spraying blood. Adrian maintains the lead, confident in his chances.

Pippa, Quinn, and Bravos ride at a standard pace for the first day. Pippa has to be careful talking to Quinn because Bravos cannot see her. She concludes that only the racers using spirits can see each other’s spirit. As the sun sets, Adrian, Etzli, and, to Pippa’s surprise, Imelda, are the front-runners. Pippa thinks of the impending violence that night promises the riders in the valley. She and Bravos will be safe.

At dusk, they dismount and unburden their horses. It is time for the phoenixes to die. Bravos takes out a short sword. Quinn steps in front of Pippa, thinking that Bravos intends to harm her. Instead, Bravos plunges it into his horse, killing it. Pippa, who disapproves of such brutality, feeds her horse poisoned berries. She keeps her hand on her dying horse until its heat becomes too intense. The dead phoenixes are consumed by intense flames, leaving only ashes. Quinn is horrified, but Pippa explains that the horses need to die so that they can rise again and become something more.

Adrian searches for an appropriate place to stay the night. He finds a secluded nook in the canyon wall, kills his phoenix, and does his best to block the light. In the distance, Adrian sees the fires of his competitors’ horses’ deaths. Four fires are grouped together, and he knows that one rider will watch the group’s ashes while the others hunt for them. He sees movement in a nearby nook: Imelda is setting up camp nearby. Adrian sneaks over and knocks her unconscious with his switch, apologizing as he does so. He hides her unconscious body farther back in the nook.

Adrian stands over Imelda’s ashes, pretending that they are his. The Ashlords, led by Thyma, arrive to put Adrian in his place. Adrian holds his own, managing to break Thyma’s knee before being trapped by Capri and the other Ashlord. Adrian falls to the ground and realizes that they are going to kill him. They poison Imelda’s ashes and leave Adrian for dead.

The pain gradually subsides, and Adrian realizes that something is wrong: He should have died. The Dread appears—it was his boon that saved Adrian’s life. He tells Adrian to be careful because his gift is nearly depleted; the Dread needs Adrian alive at the end of the Races.

All in all, the first night could not have gone better for Adrian. He survived, he removed Thyma as a threat, and now he gets to be the hunter.

As dawn approaches, Pippa and Bravos inspect their ashes. Like Pippa, Bravos chose Lingerluck and Gasping Mercies for the first stage. His second combination, Iron and Latchlock, surprises Pippa. In case their ashes get poisoned, he claims that his last choice was Absolution. Pippa never knew that Absolution was such a dark powder. Bravos suggests that they scout out the plateau before sunrise. Pippa volunteers.

Alone with Quinn, Pippa explains that Bravos is not an enemy. She asks Quinn what the spirit gets out of their arrangement. Quinn explains that if she can help Pippa in the world of the living, she will return to the underworld as one of the revived, with the power to stand up to the gods. Quinn has been enslaved by the gods her whole life.

Back at camp, they watch the phoenixes resurrect. Bravos rides off to scout the valley. Pippa realizes that her horse is blind. She needs Bravos’s help, but there is no sign of him. Bravos has betrayed her.

Imelda regains consciousness just before dawn. Inspecting her ashes, she sees traces of wormwood, a powerful psychedelic poison. The afflicted horse will see horrible visions and run until it dies. Imelda calms the horse by offering it some Revelrust and quickly saddles it. She rides off, knowing that she has a limited time until the visions spook the horse, which Imelda names Burn.

Burn takes off, plagued by demonic visions. Imelda is in the lead until finally, Burn’s heart gives out. She collapses, throwing Imelda from her back, and bursts into flames. Imelda reminds herself that she was never actually meant to win as her lead vanishes. She collects her phoenix’s ashes and heads east on foot.

Adrian watches Imelda ride off on her poisoned horse, praying that she does not get hurt. Next, Etzli departs, followed by the trio of riders who attacked him. Thyma is not with them. Adrian’s phoenix is reborn as a hunting horse, the same combination that Bravos used on the first day. Adrian stalks the Ashlord riders throughout the day. Eventually, Revel breaks off from the group. The Dread’s magic has almost completely healed Adrian, and he plans to get revenge on Capri and his partner that night.

Quinn takes control of the situation. She saddles the blind horse perfectly and convinces Pippa that they need to ride. Quinn names the horse Trust, and Pippa lets her take the reins. Bravos is in third place, and the distance between them is only widening. As they ride, the realization dawns on her that Bravos must have poisoned her ashes.

Quinn does her best to control the blind phoenix and keep it calm. Pippa grapples with Bravos’s betrayal and finally comes up with a plan. Since they have not pushed Trust too hard, they will be able to ride for most of the night, while the other racers will be forced to stop and plan new rebirths. Pippa and Quinn will be able to reach the caves and use them as a shortcut. Quinn, who can hear Pippa’s thoughts, thinks it is a good idea. Cave riding is dangerous, however, and phoenixes need sunlight to be reborn. If the phoenix dies in the cave, they will be stuck.

They ride into the night, finally stopping when the path becomes too treacherous. Quinn takes it upon herself to kill the horse. Pippa carefully explains how to set up ashes for rebirth and includes Sunscape to help with cave riding.