 Meanwhile, Gran'ma Ben and the Teacher have kept Thorn awake, and the Teacher explains that Tarsil, commander of the Royal Guard, has blamed the Dragons for the appearance of the Ghost Circles and ordered his soldiers to destroy Dragon shrines and all the Dragons' allies.Word reaches the Royal Guard that Thorn and Ben are in the city, and they conduct a search for them.Tarsil himself meets with the head of the city's merchants' guild to discuss the embargo the Royal Guard has imposed.