Aelin, Aedion, and Lysandra travel faster without Evangeline. Aelin is haunted by the destruction and poverty that she sees in Terrasen and blames herself. She leaves gold behind as they travel but stops before they reach Ilium, a town on the coast with a temple. As they check into an inn, Aelin reveals her desire to symbolically declare her return at the temple. She discusses the history of the town and its previous inhabitants, the Mycenians, who utilized sea dragons to defend their coastal domain. Aedion and Lysandra attempt to temper Aelin, but she declares that they must “raise hell” (128) at the temple.

During the journey to Skull’s Bay, Rowan tells Dorian that he must eat to replenish his magic because his magic is working overtime to keep him alive after his poisoning with wyvern venom. Dorian confesses his lack of understanding about his magic and despairs that his power wasn’t enough to save Sorscha. Rowan tells him that his own mate, Lyria, was also murdered, and the two bond over their shared trauma. Rowan agrees to help Dorian master his magic. He also tells Dorian that he should offer privateer status to Captain Rolfe and his pirates in order to sway them to join the battle against Erawan.