Over comms, Sevro tells Darrow that Volga’s crowning went well. Volga destroyed Fa’s throne, cut her valor tail, and announced that she was going to Mars, asking rather than demanding her people to join her. She also released everyone they had enslaved.

Darrow drinks coffee with Cassius, who admits that he had feelings for Aurae but knows she loves Diomedes. They watch for Ascomanni, who have mostly fled, and they discuss Lyria, with Cassius questioning whether he should go with Lyria and Volga to act as Volga’s razormaster. In a moment of emotion, Darrow and Cassius thank each other: “You’re my brother, Cassius” (591). They discuss Darrow’s new fighting flow, which Darrow has named Breath of Stone.

Suddenly, the Archimedes is surrounded by Ascomanni and Core ships, including the Light Bringer.

Lysander stages a dramatic Iron Rain to attack the Ascomanni forces on Io. Lysander attributes the Ascomanni’s lack of organization to Atlas and Fa. The Core forces easily defeat the Ascomanni: “War has never looked so glamourous, nor so tidy” (596). Lysander orders his Praetorians to prioritize helping the citizens.

Lysander and Cicero travel to a command center, and Lysander learns that Gaia is still alive. Rhone scolds the other Praetorians for unprofessional behavior. He and Lysander go to the Arbor of Akari, where he frees Gaia and others imprisoned by Fa. Gaia plans to fight alongside Lysander.

Darrow and the others watch Lysander’s progress: “I want to puke fire. It is undiluted propaganda and it is stirring stuff” (602). Lysander makes a public challenge to Fa, and Darrow talks about killing Lysander, arguing with Cassius, who attempts to calm Darrow. Diomedes argues that they are not yet ready to engage with the Core forces. Cassius points out that Lysander’s success depends on his reputation.

Rim and Core fighters perform a pre-battle ritual where the individual fighters confess their fears. Lysander states that he fears division and ongoing conflict, but as he is speaking, Diomedes approaches. First, he hugs Gaia, his grandmother, and credits his survival to Lysander. Diomedes says that he survived in the escape pod and was enslaved, breaking free when he saw Lysander’s message to Io. He says that he wants to have Lysander carry the Shield of Akari, and he takes Lysander to a shrine.

Lysander must leave his Praetorian guards outside. Once he and Diomedes are inside, Diomedes confronts Lysander about Atlas. He offers Lysander help and then leads him to Darrow, who is waiting on a bench.

Surprised, Darrow jumps up when he sees Lysander, initially thinking that Diomedes has betrayed him. Diomedes explains that he has brought them together so that they can come to an agreement to defeat Atlas, and he shows Lysander Fa’s head. Lysander and Darrow threaten each other, and Diomedes points out that they share a common enemy—Atalantia.

Diomedes will only ally with both Lysander and Darrow, arguing that demanding “restitution” will only result in unnecessary violence: “The purpose of war must not be vengeance. It cannot be to kill your enemies until none are left” (613). Diomedes tells them to take time to consider his proposal, sending them their separate ways to meet again on nivalnight, or during the first snowfall, at the House of Bounty to form their agreement.

Darrow and Diomedes leave together. Cassius does not answer when called, and Darrow realizes that he has gone to see Lysander. Gaia and a group of Dustwalkers surround Darrow and Diomedes.

Lysander returns without the Shield of Akari, saying that he does not feel like he has earned it yet and informing them of activity on Europa. Several guards take Lysander to his room, where Cassius is waiting for him, having been snuck in by Pytha after he told her about Atlas. Cassius offers to help Lysander, and they discuss Ares’s helmet, which Lysander has, and speak of their past.

Cassius tells Lysander about his deceased twin brother, Julian, apologizing for subconsciously pressuring Lysander to be like Julian during their earlier years together. Lysander forgives him. Cassius implores Lysander to accept Diomedes’s proposition, and Lysander refuses, not wanting to risk betraying Atlas. Pytha joins them, offering her help, and Lysander argues that they will have to kill Rhone, too.

Lysander and a few guards wait in the hangar for Atlas to arrive, while Cassius hides somewhere in the room. First a JamField appears, covering Atlas’s careful arrival. Atlas, carrying a bag, is unarmed and uninjured, while Rhone is heavily armed.

Atlas questions why Lysander is in the hangar against his orders. Lysander tells him about Diomedes arrival and Fa’s death, both of which he already knows, and he tells Atlas that Darrow killed Fa, which he had suspected but hadn’t confirmed. Lysander nervously awaits a signal from Pytha, fearing that she has been compromised. He continues, telling Atlas about his meeting with Darrow and Diomedes and lying when he says that he told Darrow about Eidmi.

Without waiting for the signal from Pytha, Lysander attacks, and Cassius joins. Lysander and Rhone fight, while Cassius battles Atlas. Rhone injures Lysander, puncturing his lung and severely cutting his face; however, Lysander wins the fight, killing Rhone. He then goes to Atlas and Cassius, both of whom are injured. Cassius captures Atlas, and Atlas starts to tell Cassius about Eidmi, but Lysander kills him. Lysander implores Cassius to leave, but he does not, asking about Eidmi and noticing that Lysander has Atlas’s bag. Lysander admits that he used Cassius to steal Eidmi, and Cassius, after refusing to flee, attacks him. Lysander quickly kills Cassius.

Lysander stumbles out of the hangar, feigning that he has been attacked by Diomedes and the Dustwalkers. Kyber agrees to kill the other guards, whose deaths will also be blamed on Diomedes, and to retrieve the bag that Lysander hid.

Darrow worries about Cassius while waiting for nivalnight. He is taken to Diomedes and Gaia, who does not agree with her grandson’s plan, unwilling to hold Atlas accountable and seeking revenge against the Volk and the Daughters. Darrow pushes back, and they argue about the hierarchy. Diomedes sends out the guards and then counters Gaia, arguing that the Golds have failed to properly protect the LowColors and are thus unworthy of ruling; he also refuses to lie for Atlas. Gaia concedes, unsure of the plan but willing to step aside and let Diomedes lead: “My little storm. I have waited so long for you to realize your strength is not in your arms” (649).

Nivalnight arrives, and Darrow waits at the House of Bounty, where the Rim Dominion is voting on a new Hegemon—Diomedes. Diomedes brings Darrow to the summit, ceremonially protecting him as Darrow removes his boots. Darrow gives them Fa’s head, apologizes, and requests a pardon. Diomedes announces his allyship with Darrow, and Gaia defends Diomedes when the Moon Lords at the summit complain. Diomedes also claims that Lysander is now their ally. The summit is interrupted by an incoming call from Lysander.

Lysander, wounded, addresses the Rim, continuing the story of his attempted assassination and revealing Cassius’s brutalized body. The sight shocks Darrow: “My beautiful, brave friend hangs like a carcass in a butcher’s freezer” (656). Lysander continues to blame the Raa family and Darrow, promising to defeat the Obsidians and reclaim the Rim. Diomedes refuses to betray Darrow, and Lysander cuts the feed and destroys the Garter.

Diomedes orders an evacuation as the House of Bounty is attacked and begins to crumble. Darrow holds a broken statue to keep the door open, breaking his shoulder. He evacuates, carrying an injured Gaia on his back.

Lysander watches as trees are removed from the Garter. A Brown, Lucilla, will oversee the new agricultural system that Lysander is establishing on Mercury: “It’s about time my house diversified its portfolio” (663). Pallas knows Lysander is lying, but he tells her that he will not kill her. She agrees to smooth over Cassius’s death with Julia.

Lysander goes to Cicero, who is distraught by the growers refusing to leave their trees, choosing instead to die. Lysander consoles Cicero, arguing that they will bring peace. He then goes to the Archimedes, which he has taken. He finds Pytha with Cassius’s body. She says that she will kill Lysander if she gets the chance, and he lets her escape with the Archimedes, knowing that he can use her later. After she departs, Lysander names Kyber his Dux.

Lysander’s forces spot an incoming fleet led by the Pandora. He, Cicero, and Pallas agree to ignore the Volk fleet and return to Mercury. He returns to his room, where he pulls out Eidmi and considers whether to kill the Reds or the Golds.

Darrow and the others stay in the bunker for three weeks. Both the Volk and the Daughters provide aid. Darrow is anxious, relying on Diomedes and Volga to keep their word. Sevro finds Darrow and comforts him while he grieves for Cassius: “Sevro holds me, hard, not humoring me, but clinging to me too” (670). Sevro snaps at both Diomedes and Gaia and then walks away.

The allies—Darrow, Diomedes, Athena, and Volga—gather, forming an official agreement. Darrow states that they are weaker but that they can defeat the Society by trusting each other. They part, going their respective ways to prepare for the coming war.

Shortly after leaving the Archimedes, Pytha boards the Pandora. Darrow, alone, boards the Archimedes and visits Cassius’s body, which has been cleaned and dressed. Sevro joins, holding Fitcher’s original helmet. They go to Cassius’s room, which is filled with mementos, and they watch footage of themselves and Cassius from the Institute. Darrow sent a message to Mars, and he sends a silent message to his family saying that he is returning for them.