- Po leaves early the next morning after giving Katsa one of his rings. It's a special ring that signifies Po (he has a ring for each of his brothers, his mother, and his father), and any Lienid who sees that Katsa has it will know that she acts on Po's instructions. That will allow her access to his castle, all Lienid ships—anything that would be at a Lienid prince's service. And if Po doesn't return from his mission, she's to use it to help get Bitterblue to safety.
- Katsa wears the ring on a chain around her neck, and she and Bitterblue try to keep busy while they wait. And wait. And wait.
- When the sun begins to set, Katsa knows she must go, as much as she hates the idea of leaving him behind.
- She and Bitterblue are just setting out when she hears something on the path and runs back just in time to see Po, his shirt soaked with blood, fall off the cliff and into the water, followed by his horse.
- Katsa races down to the water and manages to cut Po free from his dead horse's stirrups and get him out of the water before he drowns. Still though, Po's in sad shape.
- Katsa and Bitterblue tend to him with bandages and medicines, disappointed to learn that King Leck still lives.
- They put Po on a horse with Bitterblue behind him to pinch him or call to Katsa if he starts to fall off, and then they gallop away as fast as possible.