Elise, disguised as the Gallah "Missy", goes to the Spire of Light, where she encounters a shadow mage, Lanthia, who employs her art of stealth to surprise Elise … and then a scryer, Pearasin, who comes in later. Pearasin senses something amiss, but is unable to locate Lanthia until she gives up her ruse. He is begrudgingly impressed, but Elise insists that the time for "games" has passed, and they need to get down to business. They discuss several options for the mission to Babel, including matters of their "cover story". At the end of the discussion, it seems like the best contenders are to pose as a wealthy merchant and his entourage, or else as members of a traveling circus.