One of the avatars provides a shopping list from the women; he can identify several of the items by who requested them, such as Nadriina's requests for particular magic items, or Vorela's request for toys for the whelplings. The first two days pass uneventfully, but on the third, he spots a familiar form, not really bothering to hide itself, outside, although he can immediately tell that the massive, five-headed chromatic dragon is, not, in fact, Tiamat, herself, or even one of her avatars, but rather, one of her Aspects; still a powerful force for mortals to deal with, but hardly more than a pawn between them.