Freya of the Walker family collapses at a carriage, saying she has been poisoned and begging Heath to let her in because their families are related through an uncle-in-law. Heath is visibly frail—born prematurely and warned by the imperial physician he might not live past thirty—but Freya insists he must help. Attendants argue: one says the matter should go to General Ewing, another calls Freya’s plea inappropriate, and a messenger reports the general is not in Jinton. With time running out and aides urging Heath to hold on, someone shouts that His Highness is in danger, stalling the rescue.