Eben holds Kazi as she hyperventilates. Natiya, Wren, and Synové look anxiously on. Kazi knows seeing her mom’s kidnapper could jeopardize her team and mission because she would do anything for justice. Kazi masks her pain and tells them she knows where Illarion is after Priya’s story about Darkcottage.

Wren, Synové, and Kazi search Darkcottage and find a secret passage in the cellar. They creep through the tunnel until they find the door Jase told Kazi was a stronghold exit. Inside, Kazi finds a hidden enclave. They hear voices talking and laugh about getting rich off the Ballengers, making the Great Battle look small, and making the kingdoms bow to them. They toast their Ballenger patrons and Kazi sees Captain Illarion, the man Jase told her was a groundskeeper. She spots Governor Sarva of Balwood who ordered the Vendan massacre and was thought to have died in the Great Battle, Chievdar Kardos, a member of the Vendan Komizar’s Council who was also believed dead, and Barh, the Sanctum guard who killed Synové’s parents. Back in Darkcottage, Kazi tells Wren and Synové. Kazi and Wren promise Synové that Bahr will pay. They return to the main house as the dogs are loosed.