There is a tense confrontation between two Laos Enosi warships and the Laughing Mercat, as while the warships' commanders were given instructions to be on the watch for a foreign ship flying the tyr's standard, one of the captains seems eager for foreign blood and any excuse to shed it. In the end, the merchants succeed in convincing the Apagorevans of their authenticity, and they are allowed to proceed to the port city of Meleti.

In Meleti, the ship's crew is confined to a place known as a Katharsi House for a ten-day period, during which time they are to be "cleansed" before they can meet with the tyr – leader of the Sychi province. Rasheeka discusses with a couple of Savanite slaves what their fate might be, as the Savanites are destined to be given to the tyr as gifts, whereas Rasheeka is being trained to replace the interpreter for the Laughing Mercat.

Eventually, representatives of the merchant ship are brought before the tyr to present their gifts, while Rasheeka acts as an interpreter. However, the tyr is most impressed with Rasheeka and her mastery of several tongues, and demands that he be given her as a gift. The feline merchant, Wahed, orders Rasheeka to lie to the tyr, to claim that she cannot be given as a gift, because she is not a slave. The captain, Ledyr, tries to stop Wahed, and Rasheeka refuses to pass the lie on to the tyr, whereupon Wahed beats her until he is stopped by the tyr's guards. When the tyr comes to understand the cause of the incident – and Wahed's intended deception – he beheads the feline right there, despite Ledyr's pleas for mercy. The tyr then has his servants see to his new acquisitions – which now include Rasheeka.