Nesryn and Sartaq reach the Tavan Mountains, where the rukhin reside. They join his family’s clan, the Erudin, where she meets Borte, the granddaughter and Heir of Sartaq’s hearth-mother, Houlun. They also meet a reserved, mysterious guest of Houlun’s—a merchant from the northern continent named Falkan Ennar. Sartaq learns that Houlun is not present but will return tomorrow or the day after. In the meantime, he offers Nesryn a tour of the area tomorrow and invites her to practice archery with the rukhin warriors.

The following day, Sartaq gives Nesryn a tour of the grounds before they travel to the archery circuit, where she shows the others her skill with an arrow. At their request, Nesryn begins instructing the warriors on how to improve. Houlun returns with news that a dark source stirs in the mountains. Ruk nests have been pillaged, their eggs and hatchlings stolen. She believes it is the work of the kharankui, sisters to the Northern Continent’s stygian spiders and another form of Valg creatures.

The mention of Stygian spiders prompts Falkan to reveal his reason for seeking Houlun out. He reveals he got 100 yards of rare and expensive spider silk from a stygian spider on the Northern Continent in exchange for 20 years of his life, taken from his prime.