Lessa insists on returning the flamethrower tapestry to Ruatha Hold where it belongs. Since Fandarel has completed the first version of his new flamethrower, F’lar reluctantly agrees. However, F’lar soon receives distressing news: F’nor is looking for him, and Lessa has gone missing. Mnementh searches for Lessa and Ramoth psychically but cannot find them. A horrified F’lar realizes Lessa has made the attempt to leap 400 years back in time.

Lessa travelled back to Ruatha with every intent on making the deadly jump. From Ruatha she could lessen the strain of the event on her mind: making the jump between just time, rather than between time and space, should be less taxing. Lessa had studied the depiction of ancient Ruatha on the tapestry so she could picture it clearly in her mind, using it as the reference point for Ramoth on the leap between. Lessa almost goes mad in the long coldness of between, but Ramoth assures her that she is not alone.

Meanwhile, in the present, Robinton tries to comfort an inconsolable F’lar. Together, they travel to Ruatha.