Scene 1: Meeting Veles

Ernst and Matthieu go to Benatky to train Ernst in dealing with spirits and meet Veles. Once there, Ernst begins slowly under Matthieu's appraisal and tutelage, first opening his eyes to the spirit world, then peering across the Gauntlet deeper into Shadow. He sees the bowl, filled with swamp water, and the man Veles herding his sheep. Ernst explains who he is and who he came with. As Ernst invites Veles to come through to their world and suffers Paradox from the effort of ripping the Gauntlet, Matthieu notices water seeping through the stones of Benatky. Veles comes through to speak with the two men. They discuss the empty house, and Veles seems impatient that the Mages have not yet moved in. Matthieu lets him know about the Jesuits ("sky-worshippers"). Veles asks if they need to be killed. "No," Ernst says. "Not yet," says Matthieu almost simultaneously. Matthieu and Ernst state they do not want to exhibit anything suspicious to the powers-that-be. (0 - 30)

Scene 2: System of the Worlds

Lóránt and Yamna are placing planets in the great hall to find out who was who during Makovsky's ritual at the dissection. Lóránt is able to discern the Sun (Rudolf), Mercury (Makovsky), Earth and the Moon (Jesensky, Matthieu and the corpse), Mars (Ernst and some other soldiers) and Jupiter (Santiago, who received the grace and generosity of the Sun/Mercury). Saturn is far away, perhaps in Golden Lane. And Venus just doesn't seem to fit correctly. As Lóránt examines the area where Venus should be, he spots a knothole in the floor and sees that he is standing over the basements of the old castle... where Zsuzsanna lairs. (30 - 45)

Scene 3: Cogs and Spheres

Salih spies on the House of Margraf in an effort to track what sort of materials and projects that Margraf is working on for the Jesuits. He views the Fate threads and sees how they are tied to the neighborhood (solidly), the clock in the town square (very tightly) and the Klementinum (loosely and newly). Looking at the Resonance, Salih sees that the flow of money is pretty strong from Klementinium-to-Margraf, with a tinge of greed. He tries to fray the connection between the two, and the next time that money changes hands, something will go wrong. There are other shops and suppliers that are giving raw materials to Margraf.  (45 - 56)

Scene 4: Portraits

Yamna enters the Spanish Hall to look at portraits. Lóránt speaks to her about their interaction with Samuel. And Yamna exhibits some other entity inside her, who speaks to Lóránt about his refusal to listen to Samuel. The voice says the halls of Pandemonium howl for him. (56 - 70)

Scene 5: Survey

Ernst and Matthieu survey the empty Benatky with mortal and Mage sight. (70 - 87)

Scene 6: Meeting the Master

Salih arranges for a box to fall and then notes a crate on its way to the Klementinium. (87 - 93)

Scene 7: An Afternoon Drink

Lóránt meets Jiri at Ludmila's and they have a discussion of matters occult and martial. (93 - 105)

Scene 8: The Two Spheres

Salih sees the clock balls fall and marks one so he can scry upon it later. (105 - 112)

Scene 9: Further Discussion

Jiri suggests a council of academies in town, an ecumenical union. When Jiri leaves, Ernst and Matthieu arrive and they analyze Yamna as she serves the customers and they see nothing of note. They discuss her use as a Sleepwalker and if she can be trusted as Lóránt explains how she could see Samuel. The discussion of Yamna and Samuel leads to discussion of Lóránt's association with the Ordo Dracul. After this discussion, they discuss the planets in Makovsky's ritual... (112 - 157)

Scene 10: Diana and Actaeon

Salih arrives in a hurry and speaks extemporaneously of sewers or catacombs, and the cabal tries to calm him down to speak clearly. The cabal is baffled. Matthieu angrily demands to know what this is all about. He announces that he has been caught scrying by a female Mage in the Klementinium. There is more discussion of the demon Samuel and his offer to give him an entry to Pandemonium. Salih realizes this could mean if he delays he could be a Banisher. (157 - 187)