Chapter 8, Tradeford, Chapter 9, Assassin, Chapter 10, Hiring Fair, Chapter 11, Shepherd, Chapter 12, Suspicions. Chapter 13, Blue Lake Summary

The narrator tells of the Red Ships and the Raiders who terrorize the town, bent on destruction. The first Duchy to fall to them is Bearns. Lord Bright belatedly realizes he has erred by mistreating his own Keep Duchy, so barricades himself and his soldiers, abandoning his people. Lady Patience continues to use her Ivy Runners to assist where she can, but her efforts are necessarily limited against the strong forces of the Red Ships. Fitz cleans up and enters the next town, deciding his identification would be Jory, a soldier looking for work. He is taken instead for a beggar, but accepts coins for food and begins eating.

While he is eating, he sees a cage...