Summary

In Part 9, Chapter 1, head magician Tieren tries to see into the future by scrying, unsuccessfully. Queen Emira interrupts him and the two comfort each other. Tieren remembers that the Queen never wanted to become a mother and cried when she discovered she was pregnant.

In Chapter 2, Lila wakes up after Holland finishes healing her. All 10 crew members of the Copper Thief are dead and Lila kicks one of their bodies in anger at herself for miscounting the number of assailants she was facing. Alucard tells Lila she should have killed them months ago because the dead do not bear grudges. They make their way back to the Ghost and Lila realizes that she is grateful to Holland for saving her life, but she still does not trust him.

In Chapter 3, Schwab cuts to another flashback between Vortalis and Holland, set...