At the Landing Day party hosted by Fahd al Akram, Jynx is present on business for Blackshire, whereas Envoy is trying to check up on old contacts and schmooze a ride out of Abu Dhabi. When they run into each other, it looks like Jynx may be able to help Envoy out. However, Jynx notices that Envoy is getting surreptitious attention from a Zerda – the witch-hunter, Ra Shrikendune – and they move to a spot where they hope their conversation won't be as easily eavesdropped on. Jynx eventually heads on, and Envoy is bumped into by a seemingly clumsy Savanite slave. However, she notices that the contents of the tray carried by the slave are arranged into a conspicuous arrangement suggesting runes of the Sphere of Earth. Under the pretext of complaining to the slave's supervisor, Envoy follows her out to a shadowy area. The slave indicates that Envoy is in danger, as Ra has gotten approval from his superiors to apprehend Envoy in order to stop her quest that she is on. If Envoy wishes to avoid Ra, she is told, she should take the servants' entrance out and wait by a dromodon-pulled cart.

Envoy does so, hiding from Ra as he comes out the same entrance later in search of her. Envoy's mysterious benefactor boards the wagon, and turns out to not be a Savanite after all – as she's quite capable of speech, and plays the part of a peddler to throw off Shrikendune. Envoy escapes in the back of the wagon, and is taken to a secret alternate entrance to the underground gardens of the Emir, where she is reunited with Barabbas again. Barabbas indicates that he has been told of the latest bad news, but he is willing to help Envoy nonetheless to put together a disguise to escape Abu Dhabi … though he warns her against going to the Gateway.