On Choosing Day, Tané wakes before dawn at the South House, one of the Houses of Learning in Cape Hisan, Seiiki. After bathing in the hot springs and dressing in her uniform, she rides with her roommate Ishari and other apprentices through the streets of Cape Hisan to the Grand Temple, where citizens line the roads and throw salt flowers. As she rides, Tané reflects on how her friend Susa carried out the plan to smuggle the Inysh outsider into Orisima: Susa used her connection to a sentinel to access the landing gate, then delivered the man to Orisima's master surgeon, leveraging his gambling debts. Tané reassures herself that even if the outsider is discovered, he will likely be executed quickly to contain the red sickness, and that the surgeon will be punished but probably not killed to preserve the alliance with Mentendon. She anxiously checks her hands for signs of the red sickness.

At the Grand Temple, forty apprentices assemble before the Sea General of Seiiki—head of Clan Miduchi, the dynasty of dragonriders—and eight dragons, including two Lacustrine dragons from the Empire of the Twelve Lakes sent to bolster Seiiki's depleted ranks. The Sea General explains that dragon hatchings have ceased for two centuries and the Fleet of the Tiger Eye has been capturing dragons. He then calls each apprentice forward, assigning them either to the High Sea Guard (blue silk) or to scholarly life on Feather Island (red silk). Tané is assigned to the High Sea Guard, as are her rival Turosa from the North House, Onren from the East House, and Dumusa from the West House. Ishari is sent to the scholars and is visibly distraught. Turosa taunts Tané repeatedly, calling her "village chaff" and questioning her worthiness, but she responds with composure. Onren, a blunt and confident apprentice, sharply silences Turosa. The Sea General then singles out Tané, Turosa, Onren, and Dumusa as top performers who will compete in the upcoming water trials for the honor of becoming dragonriders. The dragons take flight over the city, ringing every bell in the temple.

The scene shifts to Orisima, where Niclays Roos is awakened by the bells and initially fears they signal the discovery of Sulyard. His assistant Muste and Muste's Seiikinese companion Panaya explain that the bells mark a special Choosing Day—one that occurs every fifty years—when dragons select human riders. Niclays reflects on the Western misunderstanding of Eastern dragons, recalling how in Virtudom no distinction is made between the benign Eastern dragons and the fire-breathing wyrms of legend. His thoughts are interrupted when soldiers led by the Chief Officer of Orisima arrive, announcing that the landing gate was found open and a pirate ship was spotted. The Chief Officer orders a search of all houses for trespassers or smuggled goods. Niclays panics, debating whether to confess, but when the sentinels search his home, they find no one—Sulyard has somehow vanished or hidden. The soldiers leave without discovering anything, and Niclays is left bewildered and relieved.