Zhaunil takes a stroll on town with Zarhrae and is accosted by a strange Minotaur. It turns out he is from the same culture as Sadrak and it seems they want him back. When the matter is brought before MatronNemalzhi she convinces the other Minotaur that he should stop bothering her BreedingMistress and that he'd better leave. Zhaunil decides to assure this by talking about it with Zhe'raen...
GhulDril yet again encounters Zha'nel in the GrandTemple and is allowed to witness her graduation for becoming Priestess.
Later on all the nobles of HouseNemalzhi are invited to attend the party that is traditionally held to celebrate a graduation.
Presents are bought both for Matron LaiHezz and Zha'nel. The former is delighted by all the weird and/or odd gifts she is brought. Especially a rude parrot from Zhaunil and a strange puzzle-box of clearly extraplanar origin from Ahriman.
During the festivities, Matron LaiHezz sense of humor is revealed as she declares she only invited houses of note to this party. Normally this would be polite and proper, but since only a few other houses have been invited and those merely had recivied invitation one of their nobles this comment of politeness also means that Matron LaiHezz disputes the eminence of the other houses and is bound to cause diplomatic difficulties in the future on account of jealousy and sense of status.
As everyone starts to relax (relatively speaking) Zhe'raen, Ahriman and Matron LaiHezz engages in conversation and all seem to get along famously.
GhulDril mostly stands on guard and has some stressful moments when he has to send for further escorts when Zhaunil decides to leave early for no readily apparent reason. For some other, equally not readily apparent reason, GhulDril keeps away from MatronNemalzhi.
Zha'nel and Zhe'raen keep up their fencing with words and actually seem to like it although it seems that Nirl and Zha'nel are more than "just respectful enemies".
MatronNemalzhi and WeaponsmasterMorghedil are caught showing their affection for each other in no uncertain terms much to the delight of Matron LaiHezz.
Matron LaiHezz decides, after a conversation with Zhaunil that it is somewhat too predictable to open the puzzle-cube at the party (not to mention potentially disastrous in view of its unknown origin) and promply decides to visit the HouseOfMagic to do so.
In the end all return home and it has been a nice party without too much danger or stress.