Envoy secures passage on an airship, acting as an agent for Master Faestar to accompany some cargo being shipped to Abu Dhabi. Her trip to Abu Dhabi is uneventful, until she actually gets there … at which point, she is momentarily affected by a glamour of Inala, and then attached by the former high priestess Gariazadze – who, after having her face crushed by a punch from Envoy (when she was under the influence of Blakat and attempting to escape the temple long ago) lost her position and was given the dishonorable status of "Ghaz-Kutsuk", marked by the wearing of a red mask. Gariazadze attacks Envoy, but Envoy recovers from the glamour too quickly, and the former high priestess is simply no match for Envoy – who is more resilient, not so light-boned, and actually trained in combat now. Envoy knocks Gariazadze out cold after a tumble down the airship stairs, and then disembarks, dragging the former priestess with her and trying to make it look as if she's merely helping a "drunk friend".

Outside the ship, Envoy sees Merchant Hasaad, whom she is to meet … but also there is Ra Shrikendune, a witch-hunter in the service of the Caroban Watch. Ra Shrikendune accompanies Envoy to the local magistrate's office with Gariazadze, and accepts the explanation that she was attacked, but gives Envoy a not-so-subtle warning that she will be watched closely while she is in Abu Dhabi.

Envoy gets a hotel room to stay the night, and when she awakes in the morning, finds a crystal rose has been left for her, presumably by Morpheus. When she goes to the lobby to return her room key, she finds that Ra Shrikendune is there again, and he accompanies her on her trip to the royal gardens – warning her to be careful of her behavior in Abu Dhabi, and strongly disapproving on her intention to go on a quest to try to activate an Abaddonian artificial intelligence. However, once she gets to the royal gardens, she finds a much friendlier reception from the guards there, who remember her as a favored guest of the Emir.