Encamped with Clack's forces, Lioth shudders while thinking on her curse of being a wild Talent, someone with many abilities who will inevitably go mad. She is also beginning to doubt her awe of Han Chuk and her fascination with war. In Nefra, while enjoying her morning screams and eyeing her favorite abused slave, Maldane, Nefra's Tyrant receives a visit from the Master of the Assassin's Guild. After explaining to him that she is now frightened of Turner, she explains why she must disband the assassins...starting with him. Stuff happens, ending with both her and the Master dead. Palac Urlanda takes over because he had arranged matters to happen this way. along with the advising council. In the night they had all received telling dreams about the abused slave, saying her time of testing was over.