A cull of the nobility of Unta has started, orchestrated by the Empress Laseen and overseen by her Adjunct Tavore to appease the commoners, letting them take their frustrations out on the Nobility while also getting rid of Laseen's enemies. An acolyte of Hood, totally covered in flies attracted to the blood he smeared all over his body, is moving through the Round where the prisoners are chained, awaiting their punishment, which is to be taken to the Otataral mines and being pressed into forced labor. Felisin Paran is chained in a line with other nobles and political prisoners, those unpopular with Empress Laseen. She worries that the priest is walking towards her. Heboric, a historian and ex-priest of Fener, laughs at her fear, and asserts instead that the priest is moving towards him. He