Having freed himself from the stone forests of Skandi, Tiger and Del return tothe South. They originally fled the South because, to save Del’s life, Tigerbroke his vows as a seventh level sword-dancer, declaring himself elaii-ali-ma.Every sword-dancer in the South, even ones he once considered his friends, arenow bound to kill him. They don’t even have to invite him into the circle,where sword-dances are usually conducted, they can execute him any way theydeem the simplest. Tiger returns to this land, originally, because the South ishis home and he hopes to rebuild the shodo at Alimat, where he was trained.Soon he is haunted by dreams, dreams of a skeleton, of a woman’s voice thatcommands him — "Find me," she says, "And take up the sword."