Chapter 45

Waking with excruciating pain from Sereme's blood bind, the protagonist discovers Kaan has left to help a nearby village while his brother brought news that Siharna has safely birthed a healthy son. After stretching to recover from the binding's effects, the protagonist encounters a mysterious black-robed stranger near the river who reveals himself as an Elding Squire with a time-sensitive message from Sereme, though his explanations about discovering the protagonist's location contain suspicious inconsistencies.

The chapter opens with the protagonist jolting awake to spinal agony inflicted by Sereme's blood bind—a reminder of her control over them. Finding Pyrok and his brother passed out from drinking and Kaan absent, the protagonist endures the pain alone before it subsides. After checking a lark from Kaan, the protagonist learns with relief that Siharna has safely delivered a healthy son and is well. The protagonist dresses in the clothes and lighter cloak Kaan provided and ventures out into the snowy village during what appears to be slumber time. While walking toward the river to stretch their aching back, the protagonist senses they are being followed. Near the bridge and trees by Líri's pillar, the protagonist confronts a large stranger in black robes, pinning him with a blade. The stranger identifies himself as an Elding Squire, claiming Sereme sent him with an urgent message because many larks are lost in the Mists to the north. When questioned about how Sereme discovered the protagonist's location, the stranger mentions a miskunn saw them that day—a claim that provokes suspicion, since the protagonist doubts any miskunn loyal to the Ath would be known to this stranger. The protagonist challenges the squire on these inconsistencies, and after receiving only silence, grows deeply distrustful. Upon the protagonist's departure, the squire calls after them with an ominous statement: the fate of The Flourish depends on them.