Yursalka is awoken in his yaksh by a sound. He hears it again, realizing that someone is throwing stones at his yaksh. He thinks it’s his son, Ogatha, who was caught in the rains. Curious, but cautious, he rises, grabs his sword and steps outside. It is stormy. He picks up a stone and lightning flashes, revealing that the stone is actually a section of a child’s finger. Conphas wonders if Skeaös is conspiring with his grandmother to sow dissension between Conphas and Xerius to save the Holy War. Conphas tells Skeaös that the restoration the Nansur Empire for his soul is a bargain.