Darrow and Diomedes reach the defiled Raa family compound. While Diomedes searches alone for kin, Darrow examines fallen Peerless knights and collects tissue from puncture wounds to compare with the poison found earlier. He monitors Sevro and Aurae as they secure a perfumery, reveal a hidden long-range coms station—the omega torch—and transmit to Athena.

Darrow finds Diomedes grieving in the ancestral sanctum over two headless bodies, identified as his brothers Marius and Paleron. Diomedes reports Thalia, Gaia, and Vela missing. Darrow relays bunker coordinates to Cassius, who departs to search. Darrow then presses Diomedes: he will not kill him, seeks to stop Volsung Fá, and proposes cooperation through Athena’s covert fleet.

As they wait, Darrow argues that Fá’s timing, logistics, and near-effortless victories suggest coordination by an unseen power rather than mere Obsidian cunning. He cites the synchronized coup against Sefi, the Kalyke disaster, and rapid captures like Sungrave and the Garter, pushing Diomedes to consider who benefits. Sevro reports Athena has received the message and orders them to stand by for instructions.

Cassius calls in enemy contact near the bunkers: Blood Horn braves—Skarde’s lot—herding Blues and Greens, then a second column of Pink and Violet children. Darrow orders nonengagement to preserve secrecy; Aurae backs him. Cassius refuses, preparing to act. Darrow compromises, telling him to shadow the braves to their ship and wait for support.

Darrow orders Sevro to assist, but Sevro refuses to abandon the omega torch and their only link to Athena, lashing out at Darrow. Diomedes offers his parole and urges Darrow to go. Darrow races out, summons Lyria to bring the Archimedes to extract Sevro and Aurae and provide fire support, then moves to aid Cassius before the captives are lost.