The Leopard-men set fire to the village to create a distraction enabling them to kidnap Zia along with the sacred mask. Out heroes learn that she is being held by the powerful sorceror N'Deye, in the city of Tellem, abandoned for centuries at the foot of the Bandiagara escarpment. Jealous of the link between Zia and the Bako, the sorceror tries to force her secret from her. But, faced with his prisoner's silence, N'Deye has her taken to one of the caves in the Cliff of Spirits. While at the top of the cliff, Esteban and Tao attempt to climb down and save their friend, Zia explores the caves to try to find another exit.