Chapter 15

In a flooded tunnel beneath the Citadel, Raeve confronts Kael with his own dragonscale blade after a harrowing escape. The two engage in heated banter and emotional reckoning, with Raeve revealing she killed Rekk and agreeing to wait out the moonfalls at Kael's mother's retreat—on the condition that Kael be there too. Pyrok interrupts with urgent news from above.

Water rushes through the tunnel as Raeve pins Kael against the wall, blade to his throat. She is bleeding heavily from a deep cheek wound and shows signs of having communed with Rayne, the Creators' voice. Kael sends Pyrok and Roan up the stairs with a key and spectacles retrieved from the trial. Alone with Raeve, Kael studies her intensely, speaking of dying happy if blinded by her presence. Raeve reminds him he asked her to come back, implying she nearly died in the process. When Kael asks if she has decided to care, she kicks open her cloak to reveal an armory of dragonscale blades—all fashioned from Rygun's scales—and reveals she killed Rekk in the lake. Kael's hands are bloodied from breaking a pier to help her escape, an act that required him to momentarily merge with Rygun's strength. Raeve reveals she spoke with Rayne but refuses to discuss it further. She confirms she retrieved Kael's lark and agrees to see out the moonfalls at his mother's retreat, but only if Kael will be there too. The two bicker about protection and risk-taking—Raeve insists on keeping Kael alive; Kael counters that he just watched her nearly die. Pyrok calls down that a problem is rapidly developing upstairs. Kael insists Raeve ascend the stairs first, grinding his teeth when she resists, and she finally complies.