Eighteen days before the convergence, Naranpa sets up a meeting with the matrons (leaders) of the four clans at the celestial tower. The clans hold the civil power, but the tower and priesthood hold spiritual power. Naranpa waits, but none of the leaders come; she discovers that Abah has intercepted them and is meeting them without her. She deliberates over what to do before heading to the meeting. Standing in the doorway, she realizes that two of the younger priests who are trying to take power from her are both from the Golden Eagle clan. The matron of the Water Strider clan insinuates that she does not want either of those priests to rule the priesthood as Naranpa’s successor. Naranpa realizes that everyone knows about the usurpation and decides to slip away.

Sixteen days before the convergence, Okoa, the Carrion Crow prince, receives the news of his mother’s death at the war college where he has been studying. His mother was the matron of Carrion Crow. His cousin comes on the back of a giant crow to tell Okoa; they drink in the dining hall as they discuss what happened. The cousin says that Yatliza’s death was a suicide: she jumped off the terrace of her room into the river.