- Having killed fifteen of Leck's soldiers, Katsa and Po now have two horses; they sent the rest packing to throw Leck off their trail.
- Of course, they know Bitterblue is right: they have to kill Leck. But how?
- It looks like Po will have to be the assailant, since Katsa can't get close to him without having her mind invaded and taken over.
- While they try to come up with a plan, Bitterblue reveals some of the nasty details of Leck's reign. It turns out Katsa and Po were right—Leck has a Grace that allows him to manipulate other people's minds. His wife figured it out, but he was able to keep her confused right up until he began to take extra interest in Bitterblue. Seems that Leck not only cuts up animals for his amusement, but he also has a penchant for young girls.
- We're spared a lot of the details, but it's all pretty seedy, and it was in an effort to manipulate his queen into giving over his daughter that Leck had Grandfather Tealiff kidnapped. Nice guy, eh?
- So yeah, Bitterblue helps to plot her father's assassination, which is to be carried out by Po the next morning.
- And if Po doesn't return from his mission? Katsa is supposed to take Bitterblue and flee.
- Needless to say, Katsa's not crazy about the whole idea—except for the part about Leck being dead, of course.