The Star's proprietor sent a servant boy scurrying off to see to Adelbert's requested bath, which took some time as the water was heated. While the bath was being drawn, Adelbert found out what he could from the inn's other patrons.

It seemed a messenger had arrived from Painford ahead of them, bearing the news from Ravenskird - news that had been anticipated before it arrived, from the sight of the smoke column to the north-west. Arguments had already been raging among Evatt's advisers about how to respond to the greenskin threat - this new information had the Grand Commander's court in turmoil.