Alfred feels out of place on Surunan, because he is still dressed in his old outfit from Arianus, and has not told the others his true Sartan name (Alfred is a mensch name). He is also frustrated that the Sartan don't seem to realise how much the worlds have changed since they were last awake, and that the only other Sartan still alive are the ones on Abarrach, who have forgotten most of their magic and now practise the forbidden art of necromancy. Samah distrusts Alfred, esp. as Haplo's dog keeps following Alfred around.