While Hamral trains, the rest of the party moves into their new quarters: an apartment under a guard tower near the North Gate, on Sleping Street. Clement spends the next week in his cups; Shakerly scours the town for wine and a ruckish sword.

Valerius, Hedric, and Shakerly meet Sir Will Garnfellow in the Bristling Boar Inn. Garnfellow is a loud, merry, and very fat knight who delights in drinking and talking. Garnfellow introduces Shakerly to a gaunt little man named Tim, who has a ruckblade and several flasks of ruckish fire for sale—but at a very special price.

Shakerly eventually agrees to rough up two men in exchange for the sword. Valerius and Hedric assist in the dirty job; Shakerly receives his sword.