X accompanies his master, an orange-white-black khatta, to the market where Oresta attracts the attention of a gang of thugs; Gwyneth nearby intervenes in the fight, saving the Khatta's life, but without gratitude as Faresk stalks off and fires X. Demes Oresta appears to save X's life from execution as an unwanted slave, and invites Gwyneth to join his enterprise. Envoy introduces herself to the others as possibly going along to visit the Zelak hive