Three ships sail towards Trate’s harbour and a ship’s pilot scow sets out intercept them. The scow backs away in panic as they approach too close. An alarm bell clangs out in panic as shadowy shapes swarm through the rigging of the three ships. Brys returns to the palace to find it in uproar over the sorcery used to against Trate. As he passes through the palace he notices Turudal Brizad, the Queen’s consort, a silent and watchful man who was often present at meetings dealing with matters of state. Brys finds him strangely disturbing.