Davian advances in his kan lessons and learns how to slow down time. Malshash advises him to be cautious of his powerful new skills, and Davian resents the insinuation that he might abuse his powers. He asks to learn Foresight, but Malshash considers it too dangerous. Malshash gave up the power to See long ago and refuses to explain why. He doesn’t believe the future can be changed—not because people don’t have choices, but because they have already made choices and experience them through time. Davian recounts how the Augurs failed in their visions, leading to the Unseen War and their demise. Malshash theorizes that the Augurs were tricked by a malevolent power, but not Aarkein Devaed. He still believes in the god El despite the Augurs’ downfall.

While Malshash is away, Davian attempts to shapeshift into Wirr despite the Augur’s warning that such an attempt is dangerous. Davian experiences excruciating pain and looks like an older, sneering blond man whom he doesn’t know. Malshash is disturbed by Davian’s appearance and helps him to change back to himself. Malshash explains that he shapeshifts every day and endures the pain because otherwise the power could return to its original owner, a creature called Nethgalla the Ath, who would cause even greater harm.

As the group nears Ilin Illan, Wirr laments his impending loss of freedom as he re-enters the court; he will especially miss his time with Dezia. The group encounters people travelling away from Ilin Illan; they fear rumors of the invaders’ unusual speed and strength. The King has tightened his control over the Gifted instead of courting their aid. Wirr promises to seek Taraliene’s aid if the Gifted Council refuses to help Caeden recover his memories.

A sha’teth suddenly appears, calling for them to hand over Caeden. The sha’teth calls Caeden by the name Tal’kamar and asks him whose side he is on. Caeden replies that he is on the side of his friends and has relinquished his unknown past. The sha’teth is about to reveal Caeden’s true allegiance aloud for the others to hear, but Caeden, fearing the consequences, destroys it. Taeris recognizes Caeden’s powers as an Augur. The group thanks Caeden for saving their lives, unaware that the sha’teth was about to reveal his hidden identity.

Erran restores Asha’s memory, and she remembers everything about the morning of the massacre. Asha proves Ilseth’s guilt by having Councillor Nashrel wear the Veil and secretly accompany her when she confronts Ilseth in his office. When Ilseth confesses to his crimes and threatens to kill Asha, Nashrel makes himself visible and takes Ilseth into custody.

Davian learns how to extract Essence from external sources to stay alive since he cannot create any himself. He pulls Essence from a nearby tree, turning it to dust. Malshash warns him that he can cause the same destruction in people and must be careful. Davian feels a sharp pain, a sign that the shadow of his body is starving and that he will soon be pulled into his original timeline.

Malshash conducts one last training session on Reading, and Davian inadvertently accesses Malshash’s locked box of memories. He witnesses Malshash’s discovery of his wife’s body on their wedding night. His wife Elliavia had been sexually assaulted and murdered by the local priest. In his grief and anger, Malshash tortured and castrated the priest. He then attempted to bring Elliavia back to life by drawing on his Reserve and the Essence of everything and everyone around him, killing all his wedding guests. Davian realizes that the people Malshash has been shapeshifting into each day are the faces of those guests.

Davian apologizes for violating Malshash’s privacy and realizes that Malshash was in Deilannis to use the Jha’vett. He had tried and failed to travel back in time to save his wife, confirming the theory that only one main timeline is possible. Malshash reveals that he has been using a lesser form of Control to Influence Davian’s mind so that Davian could focus on his training. This explains why Davian made progress so quickly.

Malshash explains that he gave away his ability to See because he could not stop reliving his traumatic past. He shapeshifts into the wedding guests because one can only take the form of someone dead. Davian wonders about the identity of the blond man that he inadvertently transformed into. To Davian’s shock, Malshash shows Davian a Vessel that is identical to the bronze box Ilseth had given him. He confirms that Caeden must be reunited with the Vessel. Davian gives Malshash his silver ring to destroy, hastening his return to his own time. As Davian begins to fade, Malshash tells Davian that it is not safe to explain everything to him. His parting words are that it was worth it, he has changed, and he is sorry.

Davian safely returns to his present time and sees Nihim’s dead body. He heads to the Great Library, which looks just as it did 90 years ago. He takes a book on Darecian fables, notices that his wrist still lacks Mark, and heads to Ilin Illan.

At Tol Athian, the council members do not believe Taeris’s warning that Aarkein Devaed is behind the return of ancient monsters and the Echoes. Since the King’s rhetoric has turned more hostile against the Gifted, the Council has decided not to engage in the war; instead, they will negotiate if the invaders take the city. They do not report Taeris to the Administration, but they reject restoring Caeden’s memories and confiscate the bronze box. Taeris hands Councillor Nashrel a stone, pretending not to know its property, and the two men exchange a knowing look. Caeden tells Taeris that while he was detained in his cell, he heard a prisoner speak in the sha’teth’s language about an “Honored Lord,” asking if the time has come. Caeden doesn’t tell Taeris that the prisoner was Ilseth Tenvar addressing him.

Aelric, Dezia, and Wirr are escorted to Princess Karaliene’s quarters. Wirr tells her that Taeris covered for Davian during his attack three years ago, and she agrees to help Taeris and Caeden. She reports that the King’s behavior has become more erratic and paranoid. He refuses to change the Tenets to allow the Gifted to fight with them and suspects the invasion is a Gifted ploy to regain power. Wirr has a heartfelt reunion with his family and is shocked to see Asha. She tells Wirr that she believes Davian is alive, but she does not expose the secret of his visit.

Karaliene agrees to let Taeris and Caeden stay in nearby quarters under her watch. She thanks Taeris for his help in warning them about the Boundary, but with Caeden, she is less lenient. She puts a Shackle on Caeden and tells him that he is not allowed to leave the premises without her permission. Later that night, Caeden removes the Shackle and sneaks out to find Havran Das, the man whom Alaris told him to seek for answers. When he finds Havran at his shop, an assassin attacks Caeden, and Caeden kills him. He hears screams outside and finds Karaliene, who had followed him, fighting off five soldiers of “the Blind.” Caeden kills them swiftly and notices that they can also use their black armor to slow down time and absorb Essence. Caeden carries an unconscious Karaliene back to her room. When Caeden returns to his own quarters, Taeris is waiting for him. Caeden realizes that he can no longer hedge his bets and must choose a side.

Caeden confesses everything to Taeris, including meeting Alaris in his dok’en and Alaris’s warning about what would happen if his companions found out his identity. Taeris is sympathetic and understands that general trust and trusting someone with one’s life are two distinct things. Caeden believes the soldiers’ black armor gives them powers like the Augurs, and Taeris is disappointed that the Gifted may not have an advantage in battling them. Taeris theorizes that “the Blind” are afraid of Caeden and do not want his memories restored; this may be the reason for the attack on Ilin Illan. Caeden and his restored memories may be the one thing to destroy Aarkein Devaed. Taeris reveals that he gave Nashrel, an ally, one of his Travel Stones. They can use the other stone to escape and find the Vessel that restores memory. Caeden apologizes for withholding the truth, and Taeris understands that Caeden was afraid. He is glad Caeden has finally decided to join their side.

The following morning, Karaliene visits Caeden’s room and thanks him for saving her life. She asks what reward he demands, and Caeden clarifies that he would never abandon her. Karaliene admits to misjudging him, and the two walk the palace grounds and become more friendly. He tells her about his vision with Alaris, and she agrees with Taeris’s theory that Caeden’s memory is somehow tied to Devaed’s return.

On the road to Ilin Illan, Davian wanders into a tavern for food. He meets Driscin Throll, an Elder from Tol Shen, who introduces him to Ishelle, another Augur. Driscin explains that he was a Gifted who had served the Augurs and went into hiding during the Unseen War. He has been looking for other Augurs and asks Davian to join their search, help rebuild the Boundary, and eventually restore the Augurs to power. Davian agrees to help them after the siege to fix the Boundary but has no interest in their political agenda.

Driscin tells him that Taeris has been hiding the truth. Taeris was the one to find Davian as a child and leave him at the school’s doorstep. Taeris also planned the attack on Davian three years ago to catalyze his latent powers. Ishelle reveals that she was in Thrindar and read Taeris’s mind when he was distracted. Driscin tells Davian to rethink joining Tol Shen, as Tol Athian and the palace are years away from openly accepting an Augur, even with Wirr’s support. Davian decides to learn the truth from Taeris himself. Later that night, Ishelle teaches Taeris how she uses kan to make herself invisible. She assumes that the school in Caladel must have been a boring prison, but Davian admits that he loved his simple life with his friends.

Davian reads one of the Darecian fables, “The Impossible Tasks of Alarais Shar.” The tale is about the immortal King Alarais Shar, ruler of the Shining Lands.

The story relates that King Alarais travels to meet a new king in the east named Ghash, a seer and Herald of Shammaeloth. Ghash has Seen the downfall of the people he has just conquered and does nothing to stop their suffering, arguing that it is fate. He adds that he has Seen the Shining Lands’ demise and that King Alarais will serve him to conquer the world. Alarais laughs, but Ghash offers him a deal. He will give Alarais three tasks to prove he has found a worthy subject, a worthy friend, and a worthy love. If Alarais fulfills any one of them, Ghash will leave the lands. If Alarais fails at all three, Alarais will serve Ghash. As a fellow immortal, Ghash gives no time restriction and stipulates one rule: Alarais cannot reveal the tasks to anyone. Alarais agrees, confident that he will succeed.

Over the course of 100 years, Alarais presents his loyal subject, Jadlis, and his loyal friend, Diadan, to Ghash, insisting on their worthiness. Ghash successfully convinces the men to side with him by offering Jadlis his own kingdom and Diadan immortality, and each man dies on the spot when they go against Alarais’s wishes. Five hundred years later, Alarais marries his true love, Teravia, and refuses to risk her for the third task. On her death bed 60 years later, Alarais confesses that he failed two of Ghash’s tasks and couldn’t bear losing her. Teravia misinterprets his words as a lack of faith in their love and dies believing that he did not trust her. At Ghash’s palace, Alarais admits he has revealed his task to another. Heartbroken and dejected, Alarais willingly agrees to serve Ghash, dons the black armor, and slaughters his own people.

Upon finishing the story, Davian wonders if Aarkein Devaed was Alarais or Ghash.