The Wooden Shekel gets up, finding a disturbance in the City of Hands, as twelve great statues have appeared in the palace courtyard. The Twelve-times-Twelve put on a presentation, introducing the citizens to the twelve gods that have "returned". The reaction in the crowd is divided, as there are many faiths that have been adopted by the scattered tribes of Savanites and those who were brought back from slavery. The Shekel gets a chance to sign privately with Jezebel, who reveals that this all came as a surprise to her – and that she sees it as a bit of political maneuvering and a challenge to her power by the Twelve-times-Twelve. The Wooden Shekel encourages her not to act rashly.