The Avatar Tara arrives to greet them, immediately demanding that Insa and Lucien both stand trial for desertion and homicide.  Fortunately, her counterpart Emcee arrives an instant later, standing up for the two of them.  He insists that the group be allowed to go about their business and Tara begrudgingly agrees to take the matter up with Laazia while Tristan is having his Ritual.  She also shows some hostility toward Aden, but Emcee reproves her, claiming that Aden has "not yet" committed his crime against the Rhythm of Life.  Emcee declares that he will perform Tristan's Ritual himself and the two Avatars disappear, leaving the whole group very confused.  They set out for the village.

 

Upon arriving, they learn that Lijah has been named the regional governor.  He and his daughters happily reunite with both Lucien and Insa, welcoming Aden and Tristan as extended family.  They are all quite grateful that Insa has been brought home, but disappointed when the learn that she won't be staying long.  As the Phoenix Fighters all enjoy the Risan hospitality, Tristan encounters Emcee for a second time.  He begs Emcee to speak on Insa's behalf to Tara and allow her to go unpunished.  Emcee promises to do the best he can.  The men discuss the nature of Tristan's relationship to Insa and Tristan is surprised to learn how very similar his life is to the Avatar's.  Tristan is warned, however, to keep his relationship hidden from Lijah, who would be heartbroken to see his son T'kar replaced in Insa's affection.

 

The next day, Insa prepares Tristan for his Ritual.  A great ceremony is held in the village, everyone gathering to attend.  Emcee arrives and with great pomp, performs the Ritual, giving Tristan the symbol of wind, which will grant him the power to conjure and direct winds in a manner similar to telekinesis.  He departs shortly thereafter, again hinting that Aden is about to commit a serious crime.  In the clamor of the festivities, Lijah and his daughter happen to notice the affection between Tristan and Insa.  They are all crushed.

 

As Tristan is recovering from the Ritual, Tara returns and arrests Insa.  Desperate to catch up to them in time, Tristan calls out for Quinn, who has been lurking at the scene.  Quinn takes Tristan, Lucien, and Aden to the capital where Laazia is being advised on the Insa matter by Tara and Emcee.  Tara demands that both Insa and Lucien be punished, but Emcee points out that Lucien is our of their jursidiction because he has a temporal bodyguard.  Laazia insists that Insa be pardoned for her desertion, but Tara points out that she also murdered fourteen Grania.  Reluctantly, Laazia decides to instead banish Insa for five years and until she has saved fifteen lives to make up for the ones she took.

 

Although Laazia declares that the banishment will begin immediately, Aden convinces her to let Insa stay until Tristan recovers enough to travel.  In that time, Insa reconciles with Lijah promising him that she will never replace T'kar.  Meanwhile, back at the House, Aden reports what's happened to Adriana.  She realizes that Lucien is the second of two people in the House with a temporal bodyguard.