Tirad doesn’t understand why Narivan is trying to sound so smart. He doesn’t take his words seriously since he can’t accept such illicit dealings go on without the Saviour’s permission. If such smugglings were so freely done, the Circle would have known about them and stopped it. But Narivan doesn’t strike him as a liar and he can’t undermine his good will and ignore his help. He will soon know if Narivan is right about the naval. What they need for their food, water and fuel would cost about two hundred coins in Oxan. He shall wait and see how much they have to pay now and if the naval would even deal with them without having trade papers. Deep in his heart, he wishes that the naval refuses such a demand to prove to Narivan and Dalia the depths in which the Saviour Rules penetrates. But then again if they don’t buy what they need, they probably wouldn’t survive for long.

Narivan leads the boat to the naval platform. He tells Tirad not to say anything and that he should hide his Saviour tattoo. If the news of the fire had reached the naval, they might have sent Tirad’s specifications to all the nearby ships. Tirad finds a piece of cloth and covers his tattoo with the help of Dalia. The cloth is not too big and only covers the tattoo area. Dalia believes Tirad should cover both his hands; otherwise, they will know he is hiding his tattoo and will get suspicious. Narivan comes to his help and gives his turban to Tirad, spiralling it around his tattooed arm then unties his waist shawl and twists it around Tirad’s other arm.

Tirad is not happy to do this, but Narivan is probably right again. He never thought his sacred Saviour tattoo could put him in trouble. He always thought of it as a symbol of greatness and respect, arising jealousy in the sea people. But he has been forced to cover it now, out of their fear. In his heart, he wants to prove Narivan wrong, to show his tattoo to the guard and let Narivan see how the naval people will treat the third-tier disciple with respect; yet again he can’t deny Narivan’s good will. He should listen to him and be careful.

A small boat is trying to turn around and leave the naval platform. Narivan gives the leaving boat enough space to turn and then he approaches the ship. He tells Tirad such fast boats are usually couriers bringing in news. He seems scared and hopes that the courier hasn’t delivered the news of Oxan fire and Tirad’s arrest warrant. Tirad says they could go to another naval or a ship and Narivan has to explain to him again that they can’t get far with this amount of fuel. They can only dwell on the sea and stay alive, fishing their food but can’t move the boat. The naval guards have already spotted them and if they don’t dock now, they will be suspicious. Tirad doesn’t argue any further. He hides his wrapped arms behind his body. The boat docks on the naval platform and the guards help by tying the boat rope to the platform rod. They tell Narivan not to step out of the boat. One of the guards jumps on to the boat, making the deck tremble, as he takes heavy steps looking around. He asks who the boatman of this small passenger boat is. Narivan introduces himself. The guard wants him to explain why they are here and what they want.