F'lar has visited four of Fax's Holds and was now approaching Ruatha. He considers to himself the fortune that he was chosen for the High Reaches, as the other Wingleaders would've reacted poorly to Fax's tactics. F'lar is stunned at the poor state of Ruatha when they cross into it. He was sure that in Ruatha, he'd find his Weyrwoman. Fax scornfully describes Ruatha's decline. F'lar and F'nor, along with their dragons, however, do sense a subtle power in Ruatha. F'lar tells F'nor that the entire valley should be searched.