Lawrence and Holo travel to Kumersun, where a pagan festival is taking place. Upon arrival, they meet Fermi Amarti, a young merchant and Lawrence's fellow member of the Rowen Trading Guild. Amarti, who seems smitten with Holo, helps them get a room in the guild. However, Holo drinks too much on the first night and gets a hangover the following morning, during which Lawrence sells iron nails in his cart to Marc Cole, wheat seller and friend. That night, Lawrence asks Holo a few questions about towns neighboring Yoitsu and ascertains that it will probably take another year or two to reach it. Lawrence suggests that they can split up once they reach the town of Nyohhira, since it would only take Holo two days to reach Yoitsu from there, but he quickly regrets his lack of tact.