That evening, she asks Lu to train her and has her first secret session with Judd and Osrik. The following night, Auren trains in secret with Judd, Lu, and Osrik in a makeshift fight circle far from camp. During wooden-sword drills, Judd criticizes her defense, particularly her failure to use her ribbons instinctively. Auren explains that hiding her ribbons has become deeply ingrained after years of concealment. Osrik says she needs proper motivation and punches her shoulder, knocking her down. When he raises his fist to strike again, Auren’s ribbons finally react, shooting out to stop his arm. Lu congratulates her, and Judd ends the session.

Walking back, Lu advises Auren to actively control her ribbons rather than just letting them react defensively. When Auren asks why they are training their enemy, Lu replies vaguely that they are waiting to see how things unfold. Auren asks if the three are the only members of Rip’s Wrath, but they deflect with jokes.

Back at camp, Auren finds Keg playing a harmonica his grandfather made. She asks him to help arrange a makeshift bath, and he leads her to the laundry tent. They commandeer a large soaking tray, and Auren directs that it be carried to the tent for the saddles. When the guards object, she insists the saddles deserve basic dignity. Keg supports her, and they fill the tub with snow, heating it with hot rocks from the fire. Auren gives soap cubes to Rissa and Polly. Though Polly is hostile, Auren expects nothing in return. Walking away with Keg, she says kindness should be freely given, not earned. Keg agrees, saying his mother says the same.

At midday, the army crosses into the Fifth Kingdom. Unlike Highbell’s harsh storms, this kingdom has a glacial, quiet cold. They camp that night on an arctic shore where the ground seems to glow.

After dinner, Auren seeks privacy among large boulders on the beach. While climbing down, she slips on ice. Rip catches her coat from behind, steadying her until she reaches level ground. He reprimands her for not instinctively using her ribbons to save herself. When she asks what he is doing there, he replies he is waiting but does not elaborate. Auren sincerely apologizes to him, uncertain for what exactly, but he stays silent.

She confesses that she is grateful he never truly treated her like a prisoner, even if his kindness was manipulation. She admits she has been in a cage of her own making and feels guilty about sending the hawk. Rip reveals her message did not matter because King Ravinger had already informed Midas of her capture to intimidate him.

Rip then points to the sky, where the moon has turned blue and stars are falling. He explains it is a mourning moon, a recurring fae tradition to honor the dead. Moved, Auren reveals the places she has lived before coming to Highbell and finally whispers that she is from Annwyn, the fae realm. She feels the ache of 20 years away from home.

They sit together in comfortable silence. When she shivers, Rip calls her Goldfinch and says it is time to leave. Walking her back, he tells her they will reach Ranhold Castle the next night and that King Ravinger will be there. He warns her to prepare herself but does not explain further. Auren realizes with shock that she will miss Rip when she returns to Midas, and she is now nervous about facing both kings.

The army camps on a hill overlooking Ranhold Castle, tension replacing the previous night’s somber mood. Unable to sleep, Auren stares at the castle where Midas is. Judd finds her and leads her through camp, stopping when they encounter a female soldier named Inga. To deflect suspicion, Judd claims he is taking Auren to Lu for women’s troubles. Mortified, Auren plays along. Judd then leads her to a hidden barrel of wine, which they carry across camp to sullen soldiers, cheering them up.

At her tent, Rip appears, his expression stern. Inside, he tells her King Ravinger will arrive soon. He then asks if she wants to stay with them instead of returning to Midas, saying he can make it happen if she decides now. Shocked, Auren argues that King Ravinger would never allow it and that she cannot abandon Midas. Rip becomes furious, accusing Midas of keeping her in a cage and manipulating her. She defends Midas, insisting he kept her safe when the world only abused her. She taunts Rip about their different fates as fae.

He shouts at her to stop being complacent and fight for herself, saying she could shine brighter than the sun. Tearfully, she insists Midas loves her and demands to know why Rip cares. He replies that everyone deserves a choice. She tells him she will always choose Midas. He coldly accepts her decision.

A few hours after dawn, King Ravinger arrives on six timberwings—large, rare flying creatures with muzzles instead of beaks. The camp grows tense as soldiers arm themselves. Lu and two soldiers approach Auren at a campfire, informing her the king has ordered her guarded for protection. Auren understands she is being watched. Lu reminds her of their previous conversation, telling her not to submit to others. Confined to her tent with guards posted outside, Auren tidies anxiously, realizing she will miss the space. She finds Hojat’s crushed peonies, salvages the best bloom head, and pockets it. Touching the scar on her throat, she fears being caught between two kings again.

After falling asleep, she wakes and tells her guards she needs the latrine. They escort her to some trees. When finished, she sees them staring from an embankment and joins them. She gasps at the sight of Fourth’s army in full formation, surrounding Ranhold. One guard, Pierce, says the Fifth Kingdom attacked first. Auren feels misery for Ranhold’s innocents, knowing Midas instigated the conflict.

As the guards lead her back, Auren sees a lone black figure at the army’s rear: King Ravinger. As he walks forward, the land beneath his feet dies, turning brown and corrupted. He demonstrates perfect control, his rot not touching a single soldier as he passes through their ranks. He stops at the front, surrounded by a halo of decay. Auren is terrified, realizing all the rumors about King Rot are true.

Sitting in her tent, Auren is tormented by conflicting thoughts. Osrik arrives and dismisses her guards. He informs her that King Ravinger and Midas have agreed to meet, but Midas has demanded her return as a precondition for the meeting. He quotes Midas’s message demanding his gold-touched favored. Osrik confirms King Ravinger agreed. Auren hopes the negotiation will prevent war.

Osrik leads her to horses. As they prepare to leave, he says it took guts not to betray Midas. They share a brief moment of levity about his earlier threats. He admits he is still bothered by the sight of her, but for a different reason now. They ride across the plains with three guards, deliberately avoiding King Ravinger’s rotted path.

Rip appears on his stallion, fierce in full armor. He dismisses the guards and rides silently beside Auren, his anger palpable. They reach Midas’s envoy, soldiers in garish golden armor. Rip announces her return. The lead envoy addresses her but will not approach, citing the rule that no one may touch the king’s favored. Rip challenges this, then grabs Auren by the waist to lift her from her horse, defying the rule as Midas’s soldiers gasp. Their eyes lock as he lowers her slowly until their faces are inches apart. She tries to memorize his face.

On instinct, Auren leans away. Rip’s expression immediately turns cold and apathetic. The moment her feet touch ground, he releases her as if burned and rides away without a word. Auren watches him go, frozen with guilt and regret, saying nothing.