Auren enters the tent and confirms all 12 saddles are present. They are arguing about torn clothing, cramped space, and body odor. Mist threatens Gia, a small pixie-like saddle, while Isis, a statuesque saddle, argues with a red-headed woman. When Auren interrupts, they immediately redirect their hostility toward her, calling her Midas’s favored.

Auren asks if everyone is alright and mentions that Hojat, the army mender, said some refused treatment. Noel and others mock her for trusting the enemy. Mist believes the soldiers will soon start sexually assaulting them. Auren sees that all the saddles share this terrified resignation.

One saddle, Polly, tells Auren that unlike her, they lack the protection of being Midas’s favored. Gia explains their guards are kept separate to prevent escape attempts. Auren realizes the saddles’ fear and confinement are causing them to lash out at each other. She asks to speak privately with Rissa, wondering whether Rissa has told anyone her secret about what she did to Captain Fane, the pirate captain who had captured them.

Rissa agrees to talk and leads Auren outside. Captain Lu allows them to circle the tent together. Auren asks if Rissa told anyone what she did to Captain Fane. After teasing her, Rissa admits she has not told anyone yet, then deduces that King Midas transferred some power to Auren when he gold-touched her, explaining why he refuses to gold-touch anyone else.

Terrified, Auren begs Rissa to keep the secret. Rissa demands gold in exchange for her silence. When Auren apologizes for what happened with Captain Fane, Rissa dismisses it, saying being ridden is a saddle’s job. Auren insists Rissa deserves love and respect, which makes Rissa laugh. Rissa argues that love and respect do not exist for women like them and that kings only love power. Auren’s belief in Midas’s love splinters as she recalls the gilded cage in the castle where he keeps her.

Rissa reveals her plan: Auren will create new gold for her, which Rissa will trade for coin to buy out her royal saddle contract and gain freedom. She will claim she saved her earnings over her years as a concubine serving other men, who used her services with the king’s permission. Seeing Rissa’s determination, Auren agrees to provide a single payment when they reach the Fifth Kingdom. Rissa tries fishing for more details about Auren’s power. As they return to the tent, Rissa threatens to sell the secret to someone else if Auren breaks her promise.

Queen Malina hosts the recently widowed, wealthy Lady Helayna in the atrium, a room Malina now despises. She remembers it fondly as her mother’s garden before Midas gilded all the plants into a metallic tomb. Lady Helayna admires the golden fountain. Malina notices the extension of Auren’s cage into the atrium, recalling her fury when Midas disrespected her mother’s memory by allowing this.

As they leave, Lady Helayna privately pledges her full support for Malina ruling the Sixth Kingdom in Midas’s absence. After Lady Helayna departs, Malina meets with her husband’s advisors: Barthal, Wilcox, and Uwen. She informs them she has secured Lady Helayna’s backing. The advisors express concern about usurping Midas’s authority, but Malina asserts she is now in charge.

When Wilcox questions her military inquiries, suggesting she is preparing for war, Malina delivers a veiled threat. She quotes her father, King Colier, about preparing for attacks from outsiders and those within, making clear she considers every ally a potential enemy. As her final assertion of power, Malina informs them that all messenger hawk communications are suspended without her direct approval.

Auren is sick with fever and headache three days after her deal with Rissa. She has not seen Commander Rip during this time, and her nightly attempts to visit the saddles have been mostly unsuccessful and demoralizing. She also continues searching for messenger hawks.

Rip appears at the carriage door without his armor or spikes. Auren asks if it hurts when he keeps his spikes retracted; he says it does not. When she asks where Midas’s guards are, Rip counters by asking about her friends. He notes her persistent visits to the saddles despite not considering them friends, questioning her motives.

Feeling dizzy, Auren stumbles when exiting the carriage. Rip catches her, but she panics and yells at him not to touch her. His spikes emerge as he notes she is ill and orders her to the tent, saying he will send for the mender.

Inside the tent, Auren collapses on her pallet. She awakens to a hand on her forehead, which she first mistakes for her mother’s touch. Realizing it is Hojat, she panics. Her ribbons instinctively lash out, shoving Hojat violently across the tent. Rip catches him, preventing serious injury. Auren realizes she has revealed that her ribbons can move. She apologizes as Rip observes her silently, explaining that she does not like to be touched and that no one is allowed to touch her.

Rip confirms he saw Auren use her ribbons to break her fall from the Red Raids’ ship. When he asks why she hides them, Auren explains she does not need another reason for people to alienate her.

Hojat treats Auren with remedies for her fever, cough, and headache. He gives her dried peonies, a good-luck charm for the sick from his homeland. Touched by the gesture, Auren accepts them. Hojat says several saddles allowed him to treat them after she spoke with them and mentions that one saddle is pregnant and progressing well with no signs of miscarriage.

Hojat confirms the pregnant saddle is Mist. Auren is devastated, realizing the child must be Midas’s. She remembers him telling her repeatedly that he could never risk having a child with her while Queen Malina remained unable to have children. After Hojat leaves, Auren lashes out at Rip, accusing him of orchestrating the revelation to manipulate her.

Rip calmly notes that she ignores Midas’s manipulation. In rage, Auren throws a vial at him, which he easily catches. He says he likes her anger because it reveals the real her and hopes she’s more powerful than Midas. He claims she keeps herself caged mentally as well as physically because she’s afraid. Auren insists she will always choose Midas, but Rip hopes that is not true. He leaves. Alone, Auren tries convincing herself the pain is from illness rather than heartbreak.

In a flashback to months after arriving at Highbell Castle, Auren and Midas dine in the formal dining room, which he is progressively turning to gold. Queen Malina unexpectedly joins them for dinner, which is usually Auren’s private time with Midas. Malina makes condescending remarks about Auren’s improved table manners and calls her a gilded orphan.

Midas attempts to redirect the conversation by asking Malina about the room’s transformation. Malina dismisses it coldly. When she announces she is leaving due to an upset stomach, she touches Midas’s shoulder and asks if he is coming to her bed that night. After he agrees, Malina pointedly tells him to enjoy supper with his pet, asserting her dominance.

After Malina leaves, Midas comforts a distraught Auren, affirming his affection from her. He explains he only needs an heir from his wife. Auren sits in his lap as he reassures her she is safe and protected.

Midas walks her upstairs to her bedroom, which contains a large, elaborate gilded birdcage he had specially built for her safety. Inside the cage are all her furnishings. He will expand her cage with a private hallway, giving her safe access to the library and atrium. Auren is overjoyed and thanks him.

Midas locks the cage door and leaves with the only key. Once alone, Auren’s happiness fades as she thinks of him going to Malina’s bed. Leaning against the bars, she reflects that despite having every comfort, she still feels lost the moment the cage door shuts.