The theme of discovery dominates the narrative. Roy has entered Ram's mind with specific purpose of discovering what Athilan was really like. A member of the royal family was chosen for him because such a person might have more access to the details of running the Athilan empire than an ordinary person would. Through the eyes of Ram and the observation of Roy, the theme of discovery is enriched by a logical progression of images, each building upon the other, making each successive wonder seem plausible.

When Roy first enters Ram's mind, Ram is in a trading post in Europe. The buildings are more elaborate than one would expect in the Stone Age, but Roy expects the Athilantans to be somewaht more advanced than other Stone Age peoples; that the masters of a vast primeval empire might have bronze age or even iron age technology seems reasonable. Then...