Morning: The Company set out to Ramhati Forest. Along the way, Si'lara encounters the same cat she saw previously, bearing another note that asks her and her companions to please come to the Circle of Standing Stones in the forest. It is signed from Ru'laija, the leader of the local group of the Druids of the Jade Circle. Si'lara and Company head to the Circle.
On their approach to the Standing Stones, Sebastian spies several figures hiding in the forest, watching their approach. Once inside the Circle, Ru'laija speaks to Si'lara in the secret tongue of the Jade Circle Cabal, explaining that they are in grave danger. Before she can finish talking, however, Thakur sher-Ikhtiar reveals himself and chastises Ru'laija for betraying him. Impeccably dressed, as always, he begins conversing with the members of the Company, easily shifting languages to accommodate their lack of knowledge in the Verundhian languages. Thakur asks why they seem intent to be involved in "his business". Although he is the leader of one of the most powerful merchant houses in Bima Hara, the Company do not treat him with the respect he believes he deserves. Thakur then turns his attentions to Si'lara, noting her pureblood Jindu origin, and makes a proposition to the Company: Si'lara will stay behind with him, and he will cease his lumbering efforts in the forest. Negotiations break down, however, as Si'lara refuses the request of Thakur, however charming he may be. Weapons are drawn, and several other individuals surround the outside of the Standing Stones. Ru'laija warns Si'lara that several druid members of the Jade Circle seem to be under the influence of Thakur's fell magick, and urges Si'lara not to let her friends harm them. Six druids of the Jade Circle appear, two of which begin casting arcane spells at the Company. There are also four more members of the Ivory Tigers, the secret society of guardians sworn to protect House Ikhtiar.
What could have been a diisaster for the Company quickly turns to victory due to some lucky combat maneuvers and some very well-timed spells cast by Jeremi. Cirend closes in to fight directly with Thakur, ignoring the other opponents in his way. Sebastian tumbles over to help Cirend flank his opponent, and Cirend holds Thakur at bay with his halberd, tripping the merchant noble every time he tries to stand. He and Sebastian both note that their weapons do not seem to be having their full effect, and so Jeremi calls upon �ton to bless Cirend's weapon with holy power. The spell pays off, as Thakur seems to have a weakness against weapons of holy goodness. Meanwhile, Ru'laija, Uso, and Orongorg take care of the Ivory Tigers and the druids. What could have been a brutal combat is over relatively quickly, with Thakur sher-Ikhtiar and all of his Ivory Tigers dead, and the rest of the charmed druids of the Jade Circle subdued.
Once Thakur dies, the Company are astonished to notice him transform into a magical humanoid tiger. The Company have heard of were-tigers before, but Thakur seems to be slightly different. He never once tried to bite them during combat, but instead used infernal spellcasting to try to control the minds of his enemies as well as to defend himself with invisibility and an armor of magical force. Most odd and disturbing, the palms of his hands appear to be where the back of his hands should be.
Sebastian and the others wake up the two elf women who were casting arcane spells, and Ru'laija shows the Company a sacred part of the Standing Stones that Thakur had discovered once he started cutting down trees in the forest. On one of the stones there is a black opal, called the Black Opal Eye. On top of it, in a triangular formation, are placed three gems, two blue and one red. As Si'lara approaches, the red gem flashes brightly and she feels a power trying to possess her body. Through pure strength of will, she is able to fight off the possession and retain control of her own body.
The two "witches" have little to say. Although they possess the forms of two of Ru'laija's druid members of the Jade Circle, they are clearly not themselves. Both demand to be released, and seem unwilling to give up any information.
The Company find themselves in a quandry with many questions left unanwered:
1) Who are the two elf witches, and how is it that they can cast arcane spells instead of the nature magick in which they were trained by the Jade Circle?
2) What is the significance of the three gems and the Black Opal Eye? There are several carvings around the Standing Stones and also an ancient Obelisk with a space in it that is large enough to hold the Black Opal Eye. Sebastian, ever interested in ancient languages, takes rubbings of the strange carvings.
3) What exactly is Thakur sher-Ikhtiar? He clearly does not appear human. Where do his magical powers come from, and where did he get his "pet" infernal lion/cat? Uso's research indicated that one or two others in the world have fought similar "hell cats" and believe them to not be "of this world".
4) Why was Thakur sher-Ikhtiar so interested in Si'lara, and why was he cutting down trees in the forest? Now that he is dead, it seems these answers will never be known.
