Tarisai and Sanjeet depart for Swana, disguised as imperial guards. They are accompanied by a contingent of guards who will escort them to the closest lodestone. The interactions between the two are tense because Sanjeet still mistrusts Tarisai due to her attempted murder of Dayo. To keep their movements secret from The Lady and to reach the nearest lodestone quickly, they opt to travel across the Bushland, also called the Bush. The Bushland is a strange and haunted borderland between the Arit realm and the underworld. It is populated by spirits, and very few people have successfully traversed it. The imperial guards are skeptical of Tarisai and Sanjeet’s plan and urge them to remain close to the kiriwi plants, which make a path across the Bush.

Not long after stepping into the Bush, Tarisai stumbles off the path. When she looks up, she no longer sees Sanjeet. She begins to panic until Sanjeet appears and grabs her hand. He promises that he can safely navigate them through the Bush. Tarisai follows him, happy to have his affection back once again. However, she begins to grow suspicious of his behavior, especially when he leads her toward a strange cave.