Nikolai, Tolya, David, and Nadia travel 15 miles to the capital by way of underground tunnel from the secret laboratory to the Grand Palace. The tunnel lets them bypass the pilgrims camping outside the city gates. They find Zoya and Genya, one of the Grisha Triumvirate, in the war room. Nikolai shares the conflicts and his resolutions with the Grisha Triumvirate, the royal advisor council. First, the Kerch Merchant Council knows about their underwater fleet and wants the blueprints. Second, their lab has developed an antidote for parem that requires lots of jurda stalks from Novyi Zem. Third, the monster within Nikolai is getting stronger. Nikolai’s solution to all of these problems is to throw a party. At this party, Nikolai will show he is healthy, give a faulty demonstration of the izmars’ya, and renew an alliance with the Zemeni. Zoya suggests a royal engagement as the excuse for the party, and Nikolai reluctantly agrees. Tamar mentions the recent death of a Lantsov pretender claiming rights to the throne, justifying the need for Nikolai to marry and produce an heir.

That evening, Nikolai meets with Zoya reviewing her list of prospective brides. The ideal match is with Shu Princess Ehri Kir-Taban, “second in line to the Shu throne” (96).