Gable, Wendell, and Nodoze arrive at the entrance to the cave rumored to contain a path to the mysterious and dangerous Plume Creux. They learn that the price to even begin this adventure is blood. They also learn some distressing things about the Deauxmignon economy. Before they descend, Gable is struck by another fragment of memory from the feather they absorbed. Even a powerful and destructive force like Gable needs to learn somewhere.