Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of gender discrimination, antigay bias, substance use, addiction, graphic violence, death, physical abuse, and emotional abuse.

Darrow visits with legionnaires (soldiers) after the Fear Knight’s attack, coming across a Red acquaintance, Dago, who, unbeknownst to Darrow, has been serving in Darrow’s army. Dago gives him a handful of soil from their shared home, Lykos, and Darrow departs Heliopolis for Mercury’s capital city of Tyche, where his army is headquartered, reflecting on the widespread fear caused by the Fear Knight.

Darrow speaks to Rhonna about Orion’s fragile mental state following the torture she endured. Having made a promise to his brother and Rhonna’s father, Kieran, Darrow wants to keep Rhonna safe. However, she wants to fight.

He visits Orion. While they argue, he agrees with Orion that Virginia is likely scared of dissolving the ineffective Senate. Rather than rely on Virginia to save them, Darrow has devised two military operations—Operation Voyager Cloak and Operation Tartarus—telling Orion, “[H]ope is an opiate, not a plan” (13).

Lysander au Lune, one-time heir presumptive to the Society’s Sovereign, and Diomedes au Raa, Storm Knight of the Rim, discuss Atalantia au Grimmus, the Dictator.