Mal struggles with the notion of having to die so Alina can save Ravka. Alina tells Nikolai that Mal is the final amplifier. Their group plans to face Kirigan at Keramzin. Mal asks Nikolai to care for Alina after he's gone, and reveals his bloodline to their inner circle. Tamar and David suggest stopping Mal's heart long enough for Alina to consume an amplifier made from Mal's finger bone, but the amputation is interrupted by a nichevo'ya. Nikolai's group is ambushed by Kirigan's elite Grisha, who take down the Hummingbird. The survivors escape into the forest and try to return to the fort.
Kirigan enters the Fold and expands it to cover the fort. Volcra pick at the soldiers and Alina and Mal are attacked by a nichevo'ya, which Inej dispatches with the Neshyenyer sword. Outside, a gruesome battle commences between Nikola's forces and Kirigan's Grisha, with both sides taking losses until Tolya, Jesper, Kaz and Wylan arrive to turn the tide.
Alina, Mal, Zoya, Nina, and Inej venture to the center of the Fold. Mal is able to transfer his powers to Alina before Kirigan arrives. Alina is able to land a hit on Kirigan with her powers, but Mal is hit and Nina taken by a shadow monster.
Tropes:
- Belated Injury Realization: It's only when she tries to use her powers that the lead Grisa realizes Jesper's attack took off all her fingers.
- Big Damn Heroes: Alina and Mal are at the mercy of a shadow monster until Inej jumps in bearing the Neshyenyer blade, the only sword capable of killing them.
- Continuity Nod: In the previous episode, Neyar told Jesper that he should not limit his Durast abilities his gunslinging, as there are other solid materials he can use. In this episode he takes her advice to heart, using the buttons on his coat as projectiles.
- Gemstone Motifs: According to David it's a joke among Durasts that a person's favorite gemstone says a lot about them. Genya says she likes emeralds, and balks when she realizes they're associated with the royal family. She decides to like rubies instead.David: Gemstone fact, a ruby is stronger than an emerald.
- I Want My Beloved to Be Happy: Both Nikolai and Mal invoke this in regard to Alina. Nikolai, who is engaged to her for political reasons, seems to have fallen for her for real, but knows that Mal is her true love and doesn't plan on standing in the way once it's all over — while Mal, who believes he will have to die in order to destroy the Fold, asks Nikolai to look after her and "deserve her" once he's gone.
- Outrun the Fireball: Kirigan's flunkies combine fire and wind to create a fireball that they aim at Nikolai's escaping group, who hump into the moat to avoid it.
- Please, Don't Leave Me: Alina begs Mal to "stay with me" as he is apparently felled by an attack.
- Romantic Fake–Real Turn: Vertov lampshades that Nikolai appears to have feelings for his fake fiancee.Vertov: It's almost comical.
- Rousing Speech: Nikolai gaves an inspirational speech to the forces to prepare them for facing Kirigan.
- Terms of Endangerment: Long-lost relatives and enemies Mal and Kirigan mockingly call each other 'cousin' during their psychic conversation.
