X travels to the Thief's Boots inn where Willow-Wind, slave-named Stripes, a slave that he had known seven years ago, is to be found. He arranges to meet the little cub, Little Reed, they talk for a little while, and then as Little Reed returns to the inn and Shesseth, an archaeologist seen at the Palace approaches, two Titanians attempt to hold up business at the inn. X deals with them deftly, winning the appreciation of Shesseth and the admiration of Little Reed. He encounters Willow-Wind herself and they have a somewhat stormy discussion, but things seem to end well and Willow-Wind persuades X to attempt to rescue Little Reed from the inn. Shesseth engages in mysterious discussion with another Naga