That night, as they ride away from the confrontation, Breadlee considers new titles while Nigel pontificates. Fern rides Persimmon with a sleeping Zyll, while Astryx leads on Bucket. They travel farther to put distance between themselves and Staysha. Fern and Astryx consciously avoid discussing their earlier argument.

 After Fern finishes narrating the story of Ten Links in the Chain, Astryx asks Fern to elaborate on a previous comment that Viv had saved her in more than one way. Fern explains that Viv helped her rediscover that books combat loneliness by connecting people, but she admits this purpose no longer feels sufficient. She wonders if that realization was only part of something bigger, or if purpose must be replenished like food. When Astryx asks if she feels hungry now, Fern is unsure.

At camp, Fern manages to dry Astryx’s wet socks by the fire, reminding the elf of her comment that dry socks are the only thing that stays exciting after centuries. Astryx thanks her and notes they are three days from Amberlin. She compliments Fern on her bravery with Staysha, then tentatively invites Fern to continue traveling with her after Zyll’s bounty is delivered.

Fern questions Astryx’s use of the word afterward, which breaks their fragile truce and restarts the argument. Astryx defends her principles as the foundation that keeps her stable after centuries. The argument escalates, with each pointing out the other’s dissatisfaction. Zyll interrupts, calls them both “fuckheads” in her language, and walks off. Lying awake later, Fern realizes she never answered Astryx’s invitation and wonders what her answer would have been.

The final leagues pass in regretful silence as they near Amberlin. The landscape becomes more populated and forested, and Astryx has Zyll wear Fern’s cloak as a disguise. At dusk, they get their first view of Amberlin, a vast city of white stone, red slate, and copper surrounded by vineyards. Fern feels morose, blaming herself for ruining things at the last minute, just as she did in Thune with Viv. She reflects that she has been offered a life of adventure but cannot bring herself to accept it.

Astryx breaks the silence and apologizes for her unkind words. She says disdain must never enter a friendship and states she wants to keep Fern’s friendship even if they part ways. In a formal gesture, Astryx dismounts and begs Fern’s forgiveness, patience, and regard. Overcome with emotion, Fern places her paws in Astryx’s hands. Astryx promises to consider Fern’s arguments and says nothing more needs to be said. As they ride on, Fern is aware of Zyll observing them.

At their last camp, Fern writes another letter to Viv, mentioning her first brawl and the Staysha story. For the first time, her letter contains no apology to Viv.

The next morning, they arrive at a large village celebrating the Summerdusk festival, which marks the end of the grape harvest. Astryx draws stares and decides they should bypass the village to avoid attention. Fern asks to be dropped off to run an errand, secretly planning to buy a peace offering. Astryx agrees, and Fern has a fleeting worry of being abandoned.

While navigating the crowd toward a liquor stall, Fern spots tartan fabric and follows it to find Quillin. He is shocked to see her, and his expression quickly shifts to fear or guilt. He grabs her arm and asks where the goblin is. Fern realizes she never told Quillin about Zyll and tries to pull away, but she backs into Tullah. The orc marches Fern into an alley with Marv and Kell, while a remorseful Quillin follows.

After searching Fern’s satchel and finding nothing valuable, Tullah returns it and reveals they captured Quillin and forced him to tell them about the group’s plans. Fern understands they must have followed from Turnbuckle, the town near the wrecked bridge. Tullah demands Fern help her capture Zyll, reasoning that since Fern is already bringing Zyll in for a bounty, she should cooperate. When Tullah learns Fern is not getting a share, she is surprised. Tullah explains that Zyll destroyed her reputation, causing her to lose the army she’d built. She grabs Fern’s tail and threatens her, forcing Fern to cooperate.

Tullah marches Fern and Quillin through the village. Kell returns with weapons. They move to a field outside the village, and Fern is too terrified to escape. In the field, they see Nigel planted in the ground as a lookout. Nigel bellows a warning. Tullah spots her archer on a nearby roof and sends Marv to grab the sword. Astryx emerges from hiding in the tall grass just as Marv reaches Nigel. She grabs the sword, knocks Marv unconscious with the pommel, and uses him as leverage to force Tullah to call off her archer. Tullah proposes a trade, but Astryx claims she does not have Zyll.

As villagers gather to watch, Zyll appears wearing Fern’s red cloak and charges toward Tullah. Quillin creates a diversion by tackling and biting Kell. Tullah, Zyll, and Astryx fight, but Tullah gains the advantage by repeatedly attacking Astryx’s injured shoulder, disarming her. Zyll dodges away, leaving the cloak behind.

Fern sees her cloak caught on Astryx’s arm. Remembering Breadlee is in the pocket, she yells for Astryx to use it. Astryx uses the momentum of Tullah’s next blow to spin the orc away and stab her in the gut. Tullah stares at her bloody hand, whispers a curse, and collapses, dead.

Fern rushes to the badly injured Astryx. Breadlee gushes about earning a new title by killing Tullah, while Fern feels sick and sad looking at the body. Nigel expresses deep shame at being disarmed. Astryx formally thanks Breadlee but returns him to Fern, saying Fern is the better wielder for him.

Quillin warns that Gatewardens are approaching. Believing she is too injured to flee, Astryx calls Zyll over and removes the magical bracelet from her wrist, freeing her from the bounty. Astryx tells Zyll to run before the Gatewardens arrive. Zyll disappears into the grass without a word. Fern feels conflicted, having gotten what she wanted but feeling dissatisfied.

The Gatewardens arrive, and the situation becomes complicated with conflicting testimonies from Astryx, Kell, and Marv. Quillin supports Astryx’s version of events. After questioning, Fern, Astryx, and Quillin are released. Quillin says goodbye, telling Fern where she can find him in Cardus if she changes her mind, and departs. As Astryx and Fern prepare to retrieve their horses, Zyll emerges from behind the windmill, leading Bucket and Persimmon. She explains that she will leave when it is time to go somewhere else.

The group camps overnight without a fire. Fern lies awake, troubled by Tullah’s death and the uncertain future. The next morning, they make the final short journey into Amberlin. Astryx leads them through the city to the bounty office, a grim, prison-like building.

Inside, the woman at the counter, Tabba, recognizes Astryx with awe, then recognizes Zyll from a bounty poster. Astryx lays her copy of the poster on the counter but remains silent and withdrawn. Tabba is confused by Zyll’s calm demeanor and the unusually high reward. She sends her assistant, Hemp, to fetch the client, a solicitor named Mister Delvyn. After Tabba mentions it is traditional for a bounty to be held in a cell, Zyll enters one on her own initiative.

When Delvyn arrives, he asks for Zyll to be released and confirms with her that the terms of their agreement have been executed. The group learns that Zyll placed the bounty on herself. She explains she did it to secure the Oathmaiden’s protection from Tullah, whom she knew wanted her dead. Delvyn presents Astryx with a bank check for the massive reward. The final part of Zyll’s request arrives: a tiny, portly pony named Round Boy and a small cart.

Outside, Zyll joyfully greets her pony. Astryx appears lost and overwhelmed. Zyll says goodbye; when Fern tries to offer Breadlee back, Zyll refuses. Zyll gives a surprised Astryx a hug, then departs in her cart. Astryx sits down hard on the curb, overwhelmed, feeling like time is slipping away. She formally asks Fern to be her squire and companion on her travels. Fern is torn, seeing another opportunity to be needed, but thinks of her letters to Viv and her own unresolved path. She tearfully declines.

At the gates of Amberlin, they part. Astryx gives Fern a share of the bounty money and the magical bracelet to find her again if she ever changes her mind. Nigel gives Fern a respectful farewell. Fern thanks Astryx for everything. Astryx hugs Fern goodbye, grateful that Fern has helped her find her way again.

Weeks later, in deep winter, Fern returns to Thune and stands outside Legends & Lattes. After two days of struggling to ride Persimmon, she traded the horse and booked a carriage back. She sees her old bookshop is open and busy but focuses on Viv’s shop. When Fern enters, Viv sees her and drops a mug in shock. Viv vaults the counter and gives Fern a crushing hug. She then closes the shop and confronts Fern about the inadequacy of her first letter: “I’m alive. I’m sorry” (101).

In response, Fern gives Viv the large bundle of letters she wrote during her journey. Over the next two hours, Viv reads all the letters while Fern fills in unspoken details. Viv admits she was furious but now understands, comparing the situation to when she abandoned her own adventuring crew. She asks what happened with Astryx. Fern explains the offer and her refusal and finally tells Viv she cannot continue with the bookshop because the dream is not hers. Using the same formal words Astryx used with her, Fern begs Viv’s forgiveness for not trusting her with the truth. Viv accepts, and they embrace.

Fern has a joyful and tearful reunion with Potroast, her pet gryphet, at her former shop. Later that evening, Cal finds her sitting outside the closed bookshop. Fern apologizes for the worry she caused and tells him she finally took his advice. She informs Cal that she will be leaving again soon, though not just yet. Cal expresses his appreciation for being told in advance. They reaffirm their friendship in contented silence.

Sometime later, during summer, Fern is traveling with Quillin and visits a bookstore in the gnomish city of Azimuth. She finds a copy of a book she has written: The Straight Road in the Dark: Travels with the Oathmaiden. Quillin playfully pressures her into signing the copy, though she’s horrified at the thought. Breadlee jokes from her pocket. Quillin is in Azimuth for detective work, having been hired by competing gnomish businesses to spy on each other.

Quillin asks about Fern’s next book; she is writing about her youth in Murk, the town where she met Viv. He gestures to the bracelet from Astryx, which Fern wears on a necklace, suggesting it as a source for new material. Fern holds the bracelet and says maybe someday, but she indicates she is happy traveling with Quillin for now. She wonders about Zyll’s whereabouts and reflects on the news she hears of Astryx, whose reputation has shifted from legendary warrior to a figure known for small kindnesses and grace. Fern wonders if she had a hand in helping Astryx become more of herself and less of a legend. Recalling Astryx’s final words, Fern reflects that she, too, is grateful to have found her own way.