Volker observes the local troops and asks some questions. Jenner wanders into the kitchen, combats the head chef, spoon to ladle, and retreats from his culinary wrath... Meanwhile the kitchen is a shambles as the chef throws a HUGE tantrum.

Lia takes a long bath and relaxes. Reynaldo baths, contemplates recent events, and tries to think of some way out of his situation. Coleson begins research on the compass.

The group meets with Heilgrund who seems interested in the compasses Coleson agrees to accompany the group on their journey. The party agrees to Heilgrund's terms and accepts his generosity. Valliere announces that he and Laurent are departing. The group takes leave of Heilgrund. They all go and speak with Valliere and find out that he is leaving for Montaigne because he has found out that Laurent is ill. Everyone goes to speak with Laurent individually, wishing him well and giving him several gifts. They promise to stay in touch as much as possible. Valliere and Laurent leave before dinner.

Everyone dresses in his or her best clothing (supplied by Laurent). Enrique asks Lia if he can escort her to the dance, to which she accepts. They go to dinner to find that there are more than 20 dignitaries there. Among the dignitaries they meet: A Vodacce merchant, a Vendel guildswoman, a Montaigne Admiral, an Eisen mercenary captain, an envoy from Freiburg, two young Montaigne sisters, a Castillian noblewoman, a "duke" from Avalon, a Highmarch Clanleader, and two dignitaries from Posen.

During the dinner there is a good deal of sniping and intrigue. The mercenary captain challenges one of the Posen dignitaries to a duel come the morning for insults he has made about Freiburg while speaking with the Freiburg Envoy. It seems she is from there and didn't like his comments. Reynaldo sends a short note to the mercenary captain offering himself as a second. She politely refuses. The Posen sneeringly accepts the mercenary captain's challenge.

William and Clanleader McAllister speak to each other. A dance commences and everyone moves to the ballroom. Enrique impresses everyone with his dancing (including Lia, his dance partner). Enrique dances with the beautiful Castillian lady and finds out news from his country (after Lia leaves). William and Reynaldo "have words" with the sneering and condescending Montaigne Admiral. Jenner speaks with the mercenary captain. He states that he admires her and what she told the Posen dignitary.

The next morning, the mercenary captain and a "second" for the Posen dignitary fight a duel in which the "second" (a solden from Posen) nearly kills her by feigning acceptance of defeat and then attacking her from behind. Though she fights well, he eventually wins, however, her life is spared by the Posen dignitary. The body of the Admiral is found in his bed, a knife wound in the chest. Everyone is gathered in the main hall where Stefan Heilgrund angrily states that the murderer will be found and "dealt with severely". He also says that no one will be allowed to leave until the murderer is found.

Everyone is questioned privately by Stefan and his solden. The "duke" from Avalon is caught trying to escape from the castle. As he is led away to be put to the question, he "stumbles" into William and whispers, "Help me. This was done for our Queen!" William later asks to see the prisoner, his countryman. Stefan tells him that he can see him briefly. William is led into the room and accompanied by one of the Eisen guards. The Avalon has obviously been tortured and is in a great deal of pain. After William sends the guard for water, he is told that Queen Elaine ordered this assassination because the Admiral was responsible for the deaths of many Sea Dogs. He asks William to let her know of his success by contacting someone. As he is about to say whom, the guard comes back. The "duke" says to William in a pained whisper, "Tell my mother that it was a Good Night" and then he passes out. William takes his leave.

Later that evening the "duke" is executed in the square. A hooded Eisen with a Dracheneisen sword beheads him. Later, Coleson tells the group what he has discovered about the compass. He believes, for one, that it originates on the Thalusian Island of "The Beast", a Montaigne pleasures island used for hunting monsters and beasts. He also states that the back of the compass shows a depiction of the "Erebus Cross", a constellation. The group prepares to leave the next day for Freiburg where they will gain passage to Carleon, in Avalon. Coleson tells them that they will get passage from there with Berek himself if possible! Enrique makes preparations to send for his Soldano steel sword, which had been captured by du Chevalier and sent back to Enrique's abuella at his request. Enrique asks the Castillian lady to give a message to his abuella to send the sword to Carleon with a trusted courier. He asked that it be left in the Castille Embassy. (He hopes to retrieve it there either before or after the trip to the island.)