After meeting with Melusine, Alptraum goes to test his new-found 'allergy' to iron, by looking for an expert on allergies: Phlagaea the Yodhgorphat. He finds her in the castle Alchemy Lag, in a foul mood because she has to share space with Mave and because Alptraum's been away for a few days.

His entrance is also noticed by Mortimer, who comes over to see what's going on. After introductions, both Mave and Phlagaea show a keen interest in the Reaper – or rather, in parts of him. Phlagaea wants some of his feathers and an eye, while Mave just wants his blood. Alptraum does his best to calm everyone done and explain about needed to be tested with iron. Luckily or not, Mort has an iron witchfinder's pin in his belongings.

The results from poking show that wherever Alptraum has been transformed by Shadow, he reacts with burning sensations and welts; most severely on the white scare over his heart. Mort pronounces him possessed, and Alptraum explains about taking on the power of the Shadow of Amena before it passed on to oblivion.

The Korv seems okay with this, and is alarmed when Alptraum wants to meet (and charm) his sister. And alarmed again when Mave notes that as a senior Yodhinala, she knows how to deal with Korvs.

In the end, the two Priestesses each get one of Mort's feathers, and Alptraum has promised to play the part of a Bargorphat for Phlagaea (since he promised to be a Barinala for Mave).