The newly anointed members of the Prince’s council have gathered in the city of Ebujo, where they will receive their official titles from the Emperor’s Council. Each member of the Emperor’s Council chooses one of the Prince’s council to inherit their position within the empire and to receive training and education for this role. Ebujo also contains a temple with a gaping pit called the Breech; this chasm leads to the Underworld. While in Ebujo, the Prince will participate in a preliminary ceremony in advance of the Treaty Renewal that will occur in several months. The Treaty Renewal renews the agreement between all Arit lands, as well as Songland, reaffirming the arrangement that requires Redemptor children to be sent through the Breech to appease the abiku of the Underworld.

After rescuing Dayo from the fire at the Children’s Palace, Tarisai has retained almost no memories of her previous life in Swana. She receives three visitors while in Ebujo, two of whom (Kathleen and Woo In) she almost seems to recognize. Kathleen and Woo In have brought along a young Redemptor girl, Ye Eun. They do not reveal themselves to Tarisai, but Woo-In gives her a storytelling drum that once belonged to the empress Aiyetoro.