Elise and Envoy find themselves in the Dream Realm again, and decide to follow the path of Gorphat. They encounter a fork in the road, as it splits into three paths, and they give a beggar some shekels in exchange for information as to which path they should take. The left is for those who seek to gain Gorphat's "Gift" of disease. The right is for those who wish to give it to others. The center one is for those who wish to have Gorphat's "Gift" taken away from them. Elise and Envoy, after some careful consideration, choose the center path.

They enter a house that seems like some sort of clinic, where diseased bats in various stages of progression are waiting. Elise makes a show of introducing the Avatar of Inala, and offends the priestesses, who insist that Gorphat is to be honored in this house, not Inala. As Envoy and Elise move on, a mother throws herself at Elise's feet, begging for help – Her seven-year-old son has gotten Gorphat's "Gift" – consumption – and she has been told that he can only be cured if someone else will take the "Gift" in his stead. Elise demands that the mother get away from her, while Envoy insists she cannot help, as Inala would not allow her to be touched by disease. The two move on, explaining to each other why they couldn't do anything, and why helping her wouldn't have likely done any good anyway.