- Seraphina bluffs her way out of getting roasted by a murderous Imlann by inventing a tall tale about an explosive device in her tooth. Kiggs is appalled and impressed in equal measure.
- After Dionne's death, Glisselda puts away her childish mannerisms to reveal a smart, diplomatic, level-headed ruler who takes charge of the upcoming dragon war without hesitation.
- When the Loyalists prepare to take Lab Four, it's revealed that Eskar has been planning to undermine the Censors for years and has been organizing with the quigutl for precisely this moment:
"Mitha gave a strange double shrug with his two sets of shoulders and said, "No matter. We're ready. We've been ready for yearth. I hope this isn't all the firepower you brought with you."
