Demes Oresta, Gwyneth, Chiri, X, Envoy, and the scholar Aski Medes travel to Shkarkin Hive where it transpires that Faresk had arranged to have them killed there, but because of Envoy's unique nature and claims that she was entitled to recognition of the Zelak sort (and because she was independent, she was also 'adopted' by the hive and charged to serve the Queen's will), they decided that Demes might be a better source of information. Chiri and X also rescued several of Faresk's Vartans and a Savanite who had become trapped in the hive after negotiations went poorly