Chapter 85

In a cave sanctuary, Raeve and the healer Agni work to mend Líri, a young Moonplume dragon bearing scars from abuse by Rekk Zharos. When Agni faints from exhaustion after completing the healing work, Kaan arrives and learns that Rekk is responsible for taking someone Raeve loved. Kaan reveals Rekk's travel plans and offers Raeve passage to pursue him, despite the political complications.

The chapter opens in a storm-sheltered cave where Raeve tends to Líri, a Moonplume dragon small for her age, working with healer Agni to repair a large torn wing membrane using rune magic. The process is painful and requires sedation via ghorsi grass. While working, Agni remarks on Raeve's fluent use of the southern tongue, and Raeve becomes guarded about memories tied to The Shade. After hours of uninterrupted work over nearly an entire day cycle, Agni completes the rune-work and the wound seals, but the magical exertion causes her to collapse and hit her head. Raeve insists Agni rest, and Agni tearfully alludes to Raeve's Dragonsight—a rare blessing—before departing in the rain. Raeve soothes Líri with touch and voice until Kaan arrives. Through careful questioning, Kaan draws from Raeve that Rekk took someone she loved, implying Rekk also whipped her. Kaan then reveals intelligence: Rekk plans to leave Dhomm in a few cycles, heading back to Gore via Ovadhan and Bothaim (a neutral border city). Rather than forbidding or restraining her, Kaan offers to arrange Raeve's departure once Líri heals and pledges to delay Rekk's departure, allowing her freedom to pursue him. He embraces her, invoking the name of Elluin (someone he knows Raeve loved), and tells her to return to him.