Chapter 37

Lyra is forcibly taken from her home by guards from the Tri-Council while sleeping and transported to the Imperial Fortress near The Fade's capital. She learns she is to be bound to Tyroth Vaegor, one of King Ostern's sons, against her will, and Moltenmaws have been stationed to secure her kingdom during the waiting period. Her dragon Slátra follows her, fighting the escort beasts while Lyra grieves her separation from home and her loved ones.

Lyra awakens to armed guards from The Burn, The Fade, and Bothaim shooting her with an iron pin before she can resist. Despite her weakened state, she is forced to gather one bag of belongings, then veiled and shackled in iron. Her parents' aides are bound and guarded as she is escorted outside, where Moltenmaws perch on Arithia's walls. She is told they are there to ward the kingdom until she can bind with Tyroth Vaegor, King Ostern's son—the very male her father promised never to trade her to. Lyra screams in protest and is struck by a barbed guard, losing consciousness. She awakens on a massive Moltenmaw with Slátra pursuing the escort beasts across the sky toward the Imperial Fortress near The Fade's capital, where she is to stay for one slumber before traveling to Dhomm, The Burn's capital. She will spend three phases there until reaching coronation age, after which she and Tyroth are to be bound. During her stay at the fortress, The Fade's young queen visits her chamber and removes the iron pin from Lyra's thigh, expressing regret over her male King Cadok Vaegor's involvement in securing the Tri-Council's arrangement. The queen embraces Lyra warmly before departing. As night falls, Lyra watches from her runed window as Slátra fights the Moltenmaws alone, and she prays to Clode, begging her dragon to return to Arithia and the hutch rather than risk the sun.