King Kashue's army rides out to battle Shooting Star, having found out the Hobb has joined Ashram, and Deedlit struggles with her feelings for Parn. In the waters around the port town of Raiden, Alhaib the pirate, under the employ of Ashram, has put a stop to the shipping. Ashram arrives to kill Abram with his group that includes the dark elf Astar and Groder, a sorcerer working for Wagnard who also requires the Sceptre Of Domination as well as the Soul Crystal Ball to resurrect Kardis. Hobb voices his suspicions about Groder to Ashram who is already suspicious of him, as well as the others as agents for other Marmo parties...