In this chapter, we learn that the protagonist is a 9-year-old traveling merchant, a member of the Eastern Coalition tomboy army, and the leader of the Field Mouse Brigade head of attacks. He is accompanied by his friend lygi, a young girl of about 13 years old, and his friend kidow, a boy of about 16 years old. The protagonist explains that he and his friends go to the marketplace to pick up things that have been dropped by others. He warns the protagonist not to let the girl get away with her friends. He tells the protagonist that his customers are looking for the body of their daughter, who has become a bug. He asks kidow to help them find the body. When he finds the body, the protagonist asks him to take action, but he doesn't tell the authorities because he wants to protect his own blood. Narrator: The protagonist tells us that lygia and kidow are the brothers and sisters of the protagonist. They are both 16 and have been raised by their parents. They work together as a team to help the protagonist find his sister. The narrator says that luke is the protagonist's first love, and that he is cool and patient with his plan.