Erida is surprised to find that she feels no guilt over joining forces with Taristan, nor does she regret her decision to begin waging war on her first conquest target, Madrence. Accompanied by her ladies, she travels to the border between Galland and Madrence to meet Taristan. She leaves her Lionguard at the gate and finds Taristan and Ronin in the ruins of a castle. They are beneath a stained glass depicting the goddess Adalen as she mourns her mortal lover. The Spindle that they have found there has not yet been torn open, and Taristan invites Erida to watch. He tells her that Ronin was the one who found him and told him of his power and his bloodline, while Cortael was raised in Iona.

Erida feels proprietary over Taristan, viewing him as a personal weapon to wield. When he asks her if she will serve What Waits as he does, she gives him a vague answer and states that he is a realm breaker, a man who would break the realm to build his own empire. She states that her goal is the same. He slices into his hand with the Spindleblade and drags the blade through the air, and a thin thread appears.