In the guest suite of the Lightfoot estate, Layth and Aisha get comfortable. The buck borrows some grooming tools from Alexander's youngest wife Faizah, and brushes out Aisha's fur to relax himself enough to tell her his big secret.

Layth talks about his childhood in Amazonia, what he remembers of the culture and why he fears returning. Aisha is a bit disturbed by the picture he paints, but is also intrigued, since it seems very different to her from Calligenia's descriptions. Layth agrees that if Aisha wants to travel there with Calli, he will go with her despite his misgivings.

Calligenia arrives, and takes Layth's admission in stride. She accepts him as Amazonian primarily because he is no longer a slave (to non-Lapis). The doe then succumbs to the stresses of the day, admitting her own shortcomings and need to depend on the advice of others to understand how things work in the Emirate. She also worries that she's failed, somehow, for letting her first big trade deal go so off course.

Layth comforts her, and helps Aisha put Calli to bed before returning the grooming kit and settling in for the night.