Envoy gets into a party at the di Medici estate with the help of Vielanika. Zoltan is there as well, having returned from Himar and Himaat, and having been pressed into service as a bouncer. Lovelace shows up as well, meeting Envoy, while there is a bit of a disturbance as Envoy meets the technopriest Verdigris Nuttenboltschen again. A world-traveller named Titus haut Mikide talks about his various exploits, drawing Envoy and Zoltan into his upcoming expedition in search of the "City of Hands"