Erida sits among her council as they discuss possible candidates for the position of her prince consort. All are subpar in Erida’s estimation, and as her advisors argue, she privately debates whether Andry’s report about Taristan is true. Her cousin, Konegin, advocates for a prince from Trec to secure their northern border, while her advisor, Harrsing, argues for a young prince from Ibal (who happens to be Harrsing’s grandson). The conversation turns to the funeral processions for Sir Grandel and the other knights who died in the massacre. Konegin questions Erida on Andry’s report, and Erida maintains her fabricated story: that their knights, along with the Elders that accompanied them, were killed by Jydi raiders. When they are alone, Erida and Harrsing discuss the fact that Konegin hasn’t offered his own son in marriage because he still seeks a way to take Erida’s throne for himself. Erida makes plans to visit Andry and her mother, then goes to hear the petitions of her people.

As Andry makes tea for his mother, Valeri, he is still caught in the memories of the massacre. Valeri asks after his petitions to become another knight’s squire. Andry lies, saying that he has sent a few.