Viv reads Sea of Passion in Thistleburr, growing flustered by the racy passages while Fern watches her reactions with amusement. Embarrassed, Viv announces she'll continue reading in her room. The two banter, and Fern admits customer traffic has improved slightly since Viv began frequenting the shop. They discuss the shop's needs: fresh stock from Azimuth, new series to attract repeat customers, and the challenges of limited space and money. Viv hints at solutions but holds back, then leaves to exercise.

Back at The Perch, Viv straps on her saber and finds a sheltered area behind the inn suitable for form work. She cycles slowly through guard stances and extensions, testing her injured leg. Her upper body loosens quickly, but her leg pain forces her to stop after fifteen minutes. She washes up and returns to Thistleburr.

Upon entering the shop, Viv is shocked to find the gray-cloaked man she had previously seen on the road. Fern emerges from the back, and Potroast charges at the stranger, who reflexively slaps the gryphet to the floor. Fern rushes to Potroast while the man calmly apologizes, claiming surprise. As he leaves, he gives Viv an unsettling, wrong-toothed smile, triggering her primal combat instincts. She suppresses the urge to strike him. After he departs with unnatural speed down the thoroughfare, Viv vows to find out who he is.