After Syen discovers the obelisk, the Fulcrum sends word to her and Alabaster to remain in Allia until further notice; Alabaster warns Syen not to tell anyone that she can access the obelisks’ power.

One evening, Syen announces she’s going out. Alabaster insists on accompanying her, and they walk to the harbor where the obelisk is still hovering, emitting a pulsing sound that worries Syen. Alabaster agrees the obelisk is broken, and tells Syen that that’s why they’re being kept in Allia: “If I were a jumped-up five-ring pedant reading a telegram about this, it’s what I’d think, and it’s how I’d react: by trying to control the person who can control [the obelisk]” (252).

Syen wants to know more about the obelisks, but Alabaster says they need to exercise caution while speaking; some orogenes can eavesdrop just by listening to vibrations in stone. Just then, Syen notices a man whose burgundy clothing marks him a Guardian. Alabaster warns her not to let him touch her skin-to-skin, and then confronts the man directly about his intentions. The Guardian introduces himself as Edki and informs Alabaster and Syen that they’ve overstepped their authority; he also says that he has found Alabaster’s Guardian.