Shred receives an invitation to meet a Veiled Alliance contact, Faldar, at The Parched Palette in Tyr. Taking Safi with him he learns that Mahlanda is being kept by a slaver's caravan outside Tyr and will be leaving in the morning. Faldar has obtained a writ allowing the group to be hired on as guards. This will allow them to join the caravan and then plan her escape.

Mahlanda describes a plan she has concocted that will aloow her to use a primal source of magic to make contact with a group of giants near Altaruk. During the attack the group can use the distraction to escape and she explains she has contacts with the Veiled Alliance inside the fort-city. For this plan she needs a wooden or stone bowl, a piece of metal, and something to float the metal on. The group easily gathers these things for her and she makes contact.

On their way to Altaruk the group approaches a small pool of water surrounded by a few scrubby bushes bearing silver berries. They were then attacked by a cluster of crodlu. It was a bit of a challenge, especiallly when Zyel stepped into a patch of chokedust, blinding her until she could clear her eyes and lungs of the fine powder. Zyel was able to knock unconscious one of the Crodlu and she took it with her in order to train it.