Ten days after first arriving in Rifthold, Celaena still feels out of shape and struggles to keep up with Chaol on their morning runs. When Celaena vomits after a difficult workout, Chaol notices the three long scars on her back. Celaena tells him about being whipped on her first day at Endovier. A fellow prisoner gave Celaena salve for her wounds, but Celaena never got to thank her because the overseers murdered the woman later that day. The overseer and sentries Celaena killed at Endovier were the men who harmed that woman.

The next day, as Brullo lectures about weaponry, one of the competitors attempts to escape, but dies when a royal guard knocks him to the ground. Nox is shocked that they killed the man, since Nox is relying on his sponsor’s promise of immunity for participating in the competition. Celaena wonders why the dead man chose that moment to attempt escape, remembering her escape attempt at Endovier. 

Dorian’s mother Queen Georgina would be horrified to learn about the secret competition taking place at Rifthold and the number of criminals currently living in their castle. Georgina tells Dorian that he must marry soon and produce an heir. Deflecting, Dorian replies that there are no princesses left since his father conquered the neighboring kingdoms.