Zephyr's lawyer, Krakaratz, is sent by a 'friend' to see to his needs; he hears Zephyr's extraordinary story about being an exile framed by Shadowspite, and decides that if they can prove it with mindmages, they might be able to win the case. He advises Zephyr not to eat the food there, wise advice as it turns out – an assassin poisons the gruel, and another attempts to finish the job by killing him when the guards investigate the apparent death of the prisoner. Fortunately, they fail and an Inquisitor orders Zephyr moved to better, more secure quarters