Riese is devastated by the depth of betrayal that she has endured and now must fight not only for her life, but for the sake of the kingdom. Empress Amara discovers that she has been nothing more than a pawn to The Sect, who have allowed her to become so engrossed in her quest to find Riese that she has not noticed the bigger threat from within her own palace.
Discovering that The Sect may have plans for her rule that are different to her own, Empress Amara is questioning their true agenda and it is revealed that Riese might not be the sole survivor of her dynasty. Riese, meanwhile, has been captured in Vidar and is also learning of a deep betrayal.
While escaping from her pursuers, Riese ducks into a building and is confronted with the man who was ultimately responsible for the fate of the Helmkin children. Riese questions him about his motivations and discovers that The Sect has been utilising religion as a means to control its followers.
Riese discovers the horrifying fate of the children of Helmkin and is once again in peril, but this time the threat is not Herrick. Empress Amara is pleased with The Sect's latest triumph over rebels in the kingdom, but it becomes clear that nobody within The Sect can be trusted.
Empress Amara is growing tired of Herrickās inability to capture Riese and threatens to remove him from the task. Riese, meanwhile, is hiding in the township of Vidar which, according to the stolen ledger, is a main destination for the babies harvested in Helmkin.