At a cafe in Caroban, Rory gets himself a cup of hot xocholatl, and is joined by Envoy. He relates to Envoy about how he has been through his tests, and – so far as he knows – is as good as accepted as a Journeyman … but that he is not satisfied with how things have turned out. He laments about how in his "dream test", he felt as if he betrayed the trust of the Savanite that he agreed to protect – even if the Savanite wasn't a real person, and the whole situation was just a magically-induced dream.

Rory also talks about learning of Skiree's death, and Envoy suggests that maybe someone to talk to would be Mage Cyprian, at the Guild Hall of Babel.