Odessa narrates their arrival in Ravalli, noting its distinctive sunken, log-built homes spiked against crux and its winding roads. After securing rooms at an inn, Ransom leads Odessa back out into town to begin investigating a recent lionwick killing rumored to be unusual. He intends to leverage Odessa’s presence for information.

At the forge, the blacksmith greets Ransom as the Guardian and initially distrusts Odessa, until Ransom introduces her as Princess Odessa Wolfe, the Sparrow. The smith bows and becomes forthcoming. He reports that a lionwick took six men to kill and that a “paperman,” new to town from Quentis, was wounded. He also mentions rumors about King Ramsey recruiting a militia, which the paperman is treating with suspicion, though nothing concrete has appeared in print.

Ransom and Odessa proceed to the Ravalli Paper office. They meet Samuel Hay, whose arm is bandaged and in a sling, and his excited son, Jonas. Samuel recounts that he first saw the lionwick from his office, shot it with a crossbow, and it kept coming; six men and multiple bolts were needed to bring it down. He was injured when the creature’s tail slashed his arm to the bone. He describes the lionwick’s cloudy eyes, green blood, and a powerful, rancid odor reminiscent of alligask bogs where cave ginger grows.

During their conversation, Samuel reveals he moved from Quentis after his wife was killed and chose Ravalli to start over, far from Quentis. When Odessa learns Samuel’s name, she recognizes him as the author of A Year in Quentis, which slandered her father; she pointedly introduces herself as Odessa Cross from Quentis, forcing Samuel to bow and acknowledge her identity. Tension rises between them.

Faze, Odessa’s tarkin pup, wakes and draws Jonas’s attention. Despite Odessa’s attempt to keep Faze hidden, Jonas eagerly interacts with the pup, calling Odessa a “legend tamer,” which Ransom notes with amusement. Ransom prepares to leave, and Odessa offers to stay so Jonas can play with Faze and so she can question Samuel further, especially about the militia and his allegations. Ransom warns her not to wander and departs while Odessa pointedly tells Samuel they should discuss his book.