Jynx is convinced that he is in the City of Hands, that his wish has been fulfilled by the Artifact of Calderas. However, Palao Alto shows up to challenge Jynx. Jynx impulsively strikes down the poodle, catching the bard by surprise. Madame Garrotte then shows up, offering to form an alliance with the Khatta. Jynx is indeed tempted – more by Garrotte's physical beauty than anything else – but he decides to take her to be imprisoned. He leaves her in the "prison", and then is joined by Calm-Sky and Far-Strider, who take him to the "palace".

Jynx wakes up some time later … arriving in the City of Hands, when he thought he was already there. The confusion mounts, and he at last wishes that he could see reality for what it is, and that the insanity would leave him. The result is painful … but it appears that a wish has finally been granted, as his senses return to him. The Priest-Queen, Third-Vision, orders the Artifact to be sent away, and no one allowed to come near, until it can be determined how to destroy the cursed object. Jynx, meanwhile, has to ponder just how much of what he remembers was real or imagined … and just what possessed him to take Palao Alto's life so readily and callously.