Chiri is directed by Demes to find X, and gets Sasta's help; they investigate the Thief's Boots inn, Chiri stumbles across the nagas who are responsible for X's disappearance, and goes to follow Frissas back, who is planning to arrange Chiri's disappearance. Sasta follows after striking a deal with Shesseth. They wind up in the airship port on the Red Creen of Safar and after some attempts to kill one another, make a deal where for an outrageous amount of money, the silence of Chiri and Sasta is bought and X and his son, Little Reed, are returned