This chapter's epigraph comes from the mouth of the Golden Serpent, who has just lost the fight with the goblins. He's not happy about it, but he's also not angry at the other goblins, either. He tells them that they're just like him, and that he'll take the blame for their defeat. He also tells them to stop being so nice to each other, and to stop acting like they've won the battle. They're not, he says, as good as he is, and they'll have to figure out a way to get back at each other. The two of them agree that they can't fight anymore, but they still have to fight.