Haplo is sent to this world and discovers, much to his alarm, that Alfred has somehow infiltrated the Nexus and stowed away on his ship. Before he can do anything, however, the vessel passes through Death's Gate, and their consciousnesses switch: the two are forced to relive each other's most painful memories: a seven-year-old Haplo seeing the slaughtered bodies of his parents and being taught that it is all the fault of the Sartan; and Alfred, waking up to find that he is the only Sartan left alive on Arianus and possible all the worlds for all he knows. The experience changes them and they no longer look at them with the same hatred or fear.