The arwr (heroes) meet in the capitol of Tuhál, called Caer Cuval. Cían, the Draoí Glás (Green Wizard) is summoned to appear before the King at the Crown of Tuhal (the hill at the center of the city).

Cían and Claybourne are drawn away from Seseal and Cissyphus and brought to the protected region at the center of the capitol - to appear not before the King himself, but his son Eigrean Cuval, and a high-ranking Draoí Dearg (magehunter) called Kitamwe, "the silent questioner".

Tasked with a seemingly innocuous charge of re-opening the fighting pits outside of Tuhal, it is evident given the gathering that this is not all that is afoot.