Anisa and her companions are brought to the village of the dimunitive "Handspans" of the Basin, where they are questioned by the "High Mother", a diminutive Skeek matron. Anisa defends her case, explaining her purpose here in the Basin, and agrees to take a test that might have deadly consequences if she fails: she is to meet the creature known as the "Observer", and it will be seen whether it spares her or not.