The Merryweather makes it to "Gateway", a makeshift town built just outside the Forbidden Zone of the Himaat and the Gateway Tower. There, Jezebel and Born-in-Shame leave the ship, intending to go to Abaddon, and Willow persuades Testament-Blaze to go with them. Willow intervenes to help Captain Barnacle communicate with a representative of the Kampfzengruppe, when Barnacle starts to get agitated at the flowery "translation" offered by a Khatta mediary.

Willow encounters some Abaddonian Silent Ones and has questions about their beliefs. When Willow mentions that she is a slave-owner, Gold-Hand – a priest of the Star who has more militaristic opinions than those of Testament-Blaze's sect – turns and leaves.

Willow at last asks Jezebel about herself … and soon finds that they have quite a bit in common. (Willow does not know Jezebel's true import or identity.) Jezebel's signs prompt a very emotional reaction from Willow, who blurts out quite a great deal, even in the company of strangers. By the end of the exchange, Willow is interested in this "Star" that Jezebel follows.