Part 1, Chapters 9-12 Summary

In Chapter 9, Grondr tells Ravna that Pham is human with fake, autonomous memories but, when the Old One enjoys full bandwidth, serves as "the hand and eye of a Power." Meanwhile, in Chapter 10, Johanna sails south, away from Jefri, and the crew gets past her password on Dataset and the Pink Oliphaunt. When Peregrine, her Dad's killer, offers water, Johanna slams his head against the hull and realizes that by hurting one, she hurts them all. In Chapter 11, Peregrine and Scriber receive a hero's greeting and audience with the now-female Queen Woodcarver. Impatient Scrupilo learns the hard way that the alien is dangerous. Worried about a superpack avenging the alien's murder, Woodcarver personally takes over Johanna's care and the Lord Chamberlain Vendacious has reluctantly to go along.

In Chapter 12, Woodcarver, after operating on Johanna, visits Peregrine, talks about accepting...