Chapter 71

Raeve awakens from a harrowing nightmare of her escape across a frozen wasteland with Fallon, mortally wounded and exhausted. The dream shifts to reveal she is actually resting in an underground stone shelter with Kaan and the sleeping child Ahvi, deep within the Undercity's outer roots, continuing a dangerous southbound journey.

The chapter opens with Raeve stumbling through deep snow, bloodied and starving, clutching a key she killed a guard to obtain. She fears she has lost Fallon in the mist but finds her emerging from the fog, weak and sickly but alive. Together they shelter on a rocky outcrop, and Fallon helps Raeve tend to wounds including an arrow wound beneath her left breast. As they rest, Raeve shows Fallon the key—a tool that allows her to hear the world's sounds only when held, causing pain when released. They spot a silver dragon in the sky through a break in the clouds, fulfilling Fallon's earlier promise of beauty. Fallon then extracts a promise from Raeve to survive the journey across the plains "whatever it takes," speaking as though saying goodbye. Raeve promises to live and seek happiness. The scene then reveals itself as a nightmare: Raeve wakes in a stone shelter shaped by Kaan, who has been comforting her as she slept. Ahvi sleeps nearby, protected by warming runes. Kaan assures her Ahvi continues breathing safely. Raeve asks if Ahvi's parents are likely alive, and Kaan suggests they are probably dead given Ahvi has not mentioned them. The chapter ends with Kaan holding Raeve tightly as she seeks reassurance that her present reality is real, haunted by memories of breaking a promise to Fallon and nearly surrendering to death.