As they travel, Karsa and Torvald hear rumors of a rebellion mounting among the Seven Cities against the Malazan. When they walk through a village, they sense something is amiss and fear they are walking into an ambush. They are soon caught by a small army of Arak tribesmen armed with crossbows. Seeing as they are unarmored, the two men realize they stand no chance against the crossbowmen. Instead of fighting to the death, as he would have done in the past, Karsa unslings his bloodsword and surrenders.