Maerad is brutally attacked. In her pain, she's unable to realize Cadvan's animosity towards the situation. In the end, she's the only one that can save Cadvan, whom she's growing to love, from the same intolerable anguish she feels- by telling the truth.

Dernhil survives his encounter with the Hulls, but leaves Innail to protect Maerad and his friends; should the Dark learn of his survival, none would be safe. Maerad is plagued by dreams of him and begins to question his death; she searches for the truth