King Kashue's army rides out to battle Shooting Star, having discovered Hobb has joined Ashram, and Deedlit struggles with her feelings for Parn. In the waters around the port town of Raiden, Alhaib the pirate, under the employ of Ashram, has put a stop to the shipping. Ashram arrives to kill Abram with his group that includes the dark elf Astar and Groder, a sorcerer working for Wagnard. Wagnard also desires the Scepter Of Domination, as well as the Soul Crystal Ball, to resurrect the dark goddess Kardis. Hobb voices his suspicions about Groder to Ashram who is already suspicious of him, as well as the others as agents for other Marmo parties. Orson's group fails to get a ship in Raiden due to the pirate activity and so he decides they will remove the pirate threat, with the aid of Maar the bard, and then take their ship. Later that night Orson attempts to face his demons head on only to end up in a berserker rage. He nearly kills the sleeping Shiris but is only just able to stop himself. In Western Flaim, Shooting Star turns to attack Kashue's army.