Alina is identified as the Sun-Summoner and taken by General Kirigan. Kaz and his Crows continue to have trouble finding a way to cross the Fold.
Tropes in this episode:
- Absurdly Sharp Blade: Kirigan manifests a blade out of darkness and shoots it at the man trying to kill Alina, cutting him in half.
- Call-Back: In the previous episode Mal gives Alina two bits of advice: first to wait till she's entirely alone before crying, and second to keep a weapon on her at all times. Once Alina is alone in her room at the Little Palace, she lets herself have a cry before searching for a weapon and hiding it under her pillow.
- Didn't Think This Through: When Mal's planning to desert the First Army and go after Alina, Mikhael and Dubrov waylay him and manage to convince him of how dumb an idea this is by asking how he'd even get inside the Little Palace, one of the most secure places in Ravka and defended by people who'd kill him with zero effort. All he'd get for his efforts would be getting hanged as a deserter.
- The Dreaded: Kirigan flatly says that the enemy have retreated now that he has arrived. He is shown to be completely correct.
- Extended Disarming: When Inej arrives back at the Menagerie, she takes a few minutes to remove at least ten knives from her clothes, boots and hair.
- Foreshadowing: In her brief conversation with Mal, Zoya seems a little peeved that Alina is riding with General Kirigan, hinting at their relationship.
- Gilded Cage: Alina asks if she is a prisoner in the Little Palace. Kirigan dodges the question, but there are two guards following her at all times.
- Holding Hands: It comes up three times between Alina and Mal: we see them as children, holding hands as they hide from the Grisha tests. In the present, Mal reaches for Alina's hand as she lies unconscious on the deck of the skiff, only for him to be carried away on a stretcher. Finally, the last scene of the episode is the two of them lying down to sleep in entirely different locations, only to simultaneously reach out for the other's hand.
- An Offer You Can't Refuse: Pekka makes another of these in this episode, telling Kaz he’ll cave his head in with his own cane and dump him in the harbour if he doesn’t let him “take over” the job.
- Oh, Crap!: Those his words aren't translated, it's very likely that the Fjerdan about to assassinate Alina uttered something along these lines when he sees the arrival of General Kirigan. Seconds later, he's magically cut in half.
- Pillar of Light: Alina's Grisha test results in a pillar of light extending out of Kirigan's tent, which is proof enough that she's the Sun Summoner.
- Pillow Pistol: On finding herself in her luxurious room in the Little Palace, the first thing Alina does is search it until she finds a makeshift weapon, a letter opener that she hides under her pillow.
- Race Against the Clock: Kaz has only a few hours to figure out how he and the Crows can cross the Shadow Fold or he'll lose the job.
- Second Episode Introduction: While General Kirigan appeared out of frame in the first episode, he's properly introduced here.
- Sherlock Scan: Kaz notices a woman counting money in a particular way, which leads him to deduce that she's from East Ravka, which tells him that she's found a way to cross the Fold.
- Silence, You Fool!: Kirigan has the "everyone falls silent" version when he tells the Grisha laughing at Alina's expense to shut it.
- Stealth Hi/Bye: Inej appears to, and disappears from, Jesper in the streets without him noticing, which leaves him openly confused.
- Technology Marches On: In-Universe; the invention of repeating firearms means that Grisha are no longer the Game Changer they once were.
- Thou Shalt Not Kill: Just as Inej is about to stab him to death, the Conductor notices her necklace of Sankt Lizabet and bets on her fidelity to this commandment. It makes her hesitate, but she would have gone through with killing him had Kaz not arrived.
- Undying Loyalty: Mal has to be talked out of deserting his post to go riding after Alina. We then cut to Kaz buying out Inej's indenture using his own gambling club as collateral.
- What the Hell Are You?: This is the first question that Kirigan asks Alina when she's brought before him. She assumes he's asking Who Are You?Kirigan: Well? What are you?Alina: Alina Starkov, assistant cartographer, Royal Corp of Surveyors. They're all gone. It's my fault...that's why I'm here isn't it?Kirigan: Answer the question. What are you?
- White Shirt of Death: Or in this case a White Stallion of Death, on the bloodstained survivor of the ambush.
- You Are Not Alone: The Grisha try to tell Alina this; she's understandably skeptical.
