The Eastern Flower, an airship bound for Half Valley, starts at the Rephidim Docks, where several people are boarding the passenger liner for a cruise over the Savan. Among the passengers are Buran and Aski Medes, accompanying some crates that secretly contain Qing and Bassai – who are stowing away to get past the Temple-imposed ban on Nagai and Jingai leaving the city. The Kavis are fairly rough with the crates, giving Buran (and those inside the crates) much reason to worry. Meanwhile, Jynx and his family board, and Envoy comes aboard as a crewmember. Jynx meets an Aelfin healer priest, Brother Gavriel, after mistaking his tail for his sister's. Belowdecks, Envoy searches for a costume, while Buran struggles to secretly free Bassai and Qing. That evening, there is a social 'mixer' abovedecks, where a drunk Jupani disrupts Envoy's performance, and various persons mingle and trade tales.