On board a Nohbakim sand trireme, Lakshmi, Skye, Lochinvar and Fenter travel to a Forbidden Zone on the eastern side of the Sea of Sand. Lakshmi is rather taken with seeing a kooshkie sled, while Lochinvar hides belowdecks from Fenter's spellcasting, and Skye makes sure Lakshmi doesn't fall overboard or anything like that. Fenter uses his magic to part a magical sandstorm for the sand trireme to pass through, and then they come to a halt, unloading their cargo at what looks like a giant tree growing in the desert, swallowing up a stone tower.

At the base of the tree/tower, they set up camp, Fenter setting up a magical ward to protect their camp from Forbidden Zone magic. They ponder an amber door leading into the tower, but decide that it's a trap. Fenter and the Nohbakim trireme depart, planning on returning in two weeks to replenish supplies. The explorers spend some time arguing over how to enter the tower. At last, while they walk around the tower, they discover another door in the back, and an enchanted plant that serves as an "elevator" to reach it.

Inside the wooden door, they find two ruby statues, and a corridor of amber. Skye navigates the corridor, while Lakshmi pets the statues, and pricks her finger. The blood seeps into the statue, which transforms into a living creature, and attacks. Lochinvar holds off the beast, while Lakshmi wrestles her way through the sticky hallway. Skye uses leaves and branches to make a "carpet" that Lakshmi can crawl over so she doesn't touch the cursed amber, while Lochinvar deftly dodges the monster, prompting it to leap right out the open door and crash below.

At last, they reach the hollow interior of the tower/tree.