Haplo, travelling through Death's Gate, is determined to reaffirm his loyalty to his lord and forget the doubt he felt after discovering the Chamber of the Damned on Abarrach. As soon as Haplo arrives in Chelestra in his ship, it starts to break up, and when the sea touches him his tattoos vanish and his magic dissolves. He discovers the sea is breathable, but is left defenceless. Grundle, Devon and Alake find him floating in the sea and rescue him. His dog disappeared before he reached Chelestra.