Brishen is called away when she is informed of an "incident", and finds that a golden vixen has been pickpocketing at the party (though she denies it). She is distracted by a mysterious knocking sound as she sends her guards out to hunt for any other intruders.

Upstairs, she finds the ghostly Amaranth, who makes an offer to Brishen – aid in exchange for the golden vixen. Brishen refuses, sending the apparition away … and giving her guards orders to lock up the vixen, and to seek out any other uninvited guests: If anyone is not a member of the staff or an invited guest, he is to be captured. If he resists, he is to be killed. Brishen makes other plans … to put a spy on Bryanna, to send a bounty hunter after Jynx, and to otherwise deal in intrigue in Rephidim.