The Burards are throwing a new years party and sparing no expense. Their "Savoury Entertainment" has gone missing en route to High Town. The coloneldomo of House Burard intends to send an expensive search party, but Willingly volunteers to take care of it, since the search party would also spare no expense.

Zephyr is contracted to serve as a guide, since the cargo was lost in the area of her house's lands. Grey is brought along to transport the cargo. The rest of the party are friends and tag-alongs.

Travelling the road, they determine that the wagon was dragged off the road into a giant series of tunnels/burrows. As they track the wagon, Grey and Sun pick up debris from it. Grey tucks it away for safekeeping, Sun puts things in their mouth, including a copper nail.

Grey, Willingly, Ellywick and Zephyr climb down the hole to search for the cargo. They hear the skittering of many many many legs.