Envoy, disguised as the Nohbakim "Yovne," travels with the Khatta bothers Aban and Abas as part of a caravan carrying supplies for an expedition to the world of Behemoth. When the caravan reaches the other side, Temple Guards start searching the caravan, tipped off that Envoy is disguising herself as a Nohbakim. Kampfzengruppe guards take issue with this challenge to their authority, and a stand-off ensues, while Eustace do Varr appears to be trying to "defuse" the situation. Meanwhile, a couple of Guards approach Envoy, and demand to ask her a few "questions". It turns out that one of them, Rezhina, was specifically instructed to intercept Envoy, so that she is not discovered by any of the Guards helping the witch hunter Ra Shrikendune. Envoy returns to the wagon, with the pretense of having been searched and found to be a true Nohbakim (not an Exile in disguise), and Ra is infuriated that his plan to trap Envoy has failed.

The caravan continues through a network of crystal passages to a site where some scholars examine what they believe to be a "gateway" leading elsewhere on Behemoth. "Yovne" volunteers to help with the device, and – donning her crystal crown in secret – uses her singing to try to activate the crystal. It works … and she finds herself teleported somewhere else. Alas, she has once again encountered strange natives and a new language barrier…