The small party of Dutiful's Wit and Skill coteries and Elliania's retinue arrive on Aslevjal, greeted by the Fool, who Fitz had left behind to prevent his death.

Investigating a disappearance, Fitz and the Fool fall into a snow chasm and arrive at the realm of the Pale Woman, who had kidnapped and Forged Elliana’s mother and sister in order to ensure her loyalty.

As Fitz prepares to detonate Chade's explosives and kill the dragon, he realizes that the death of Icefyre would appear to be an attack by the Six Duchies on the Outislands, and respark war between the two countries.

Once Icefyre is freed, the Pale Woman unleashes her own dragon, made of memory stone and embodying Kebal Rawbread.

Burrich is mortally hurt but successfully uses the Wit to pause the stone dragon long enough for Swift to kill it with a wizardwood arrow.

Fitz finds the Fool dead and tortured in the Pale Woman's realm and brings him through the Skill Pillars to the Quarry.