Now in Jutland, Autumn senses something big will occur around Delmac. Aaron meets his archeologists and learns he has a connected past with at least one of them. The entire group goes gaga over Aaron's books and agree to work a Chin cave sight for access to them. They all teleport to New Beginning, his incomplete Chin city. Aaron explains to Autumn why he sleeps in a tent, in fact, why he sleeps in a different tent or location every night. He is not so successful at explaining the strange ways of Miss Bainridge. Before going to sleep, he studies the pamplet Khante dropped and sees yet one more proof that people the world over hate him. He tosses the pamplet aside. He had seen fifty or more just like it before.

Aaron introduces Autumn to N'Ark inside Isabella. They visit Amanda and Karen to free ups some funds, where Autumn discovers she has a baby brother and displays a bit of Talent. Later, Aaron visits the Clan Broch to pick up books, encounters Delmac, and also a very disagreeable fellow by the name of Roger Khante. After Delmac urges Khante to move along (not gently) Aaron discovers a brochere lying on the ground, one concerning him. While picking up his books, Aaron learns Delmac intends to come with him to Chin for some very personal reasons.

Back in Isabella, Amanda gets a massage and learns a mysterious woman wants to connect with Aaron. Later, Armand and Faith Crowley meet a gal named Brenda Montpass on a raquetball court, much to Armand's interest and Faith's chagrin. Back at the office Armand accepts an undercover job with the proviso that Faith comes along.

After teleporting back to Jutland, Aaron meets with his war council, learns about archeologists and assassins while Missy discovers why Chins don't have horses. Later, we discover a few changes have happened in Aaron's and Missy's relationship.

Plots against Aaron begin to while Aaron happily builds a new city in his fractured empire and tries to understand what exactly is a Tchung, and why are the Chins starting one now. Also, why are there four heads stuck on top of spears in the middle of a Chin camp?