The Champion of Shadows and the rest of Shadow Lance journey to the nation of Zahirinee by zeppelin, joined by Air Mage Wynona "Wrong Way" Windcaller. They are met by Governor Zahirinee and led to his home, where they are give use of his cabin as a base of operations, and briefed on the troubles plaguing the villagers, with a golem or elemental of some sort making terror attacks on civilians. The Champion grills Zahirinee for clues, and then is given a special honor by Zahirinee – a chance to ask a question of his magical pool, though there are many limitations on the sorts of questions that may be answered.

The Champion confers with his fellow Lancers, and decides to ask about the speech that Jade-Eyes had made about the coming of the "true" Silent Ones. He goes with his prepared question, and receives a vision of the arrival of these "Silent Ones", and a leader who claims to be the Star itself, and is worshipped by many … and has the power to slay his detractors with fire from the heavens. The Champion of Shadows is disturbed by this vision, and reports it to his comrades, determined more than ever to quickly deal with the menace in Zahirinee, so they may deal with this new and upcoming danger.