ackar and gelu cut to the west across the bed of the skrall river, where gelu notices telltale marks of vorox in the sand. ackar tells gelu that they are heading for a cave inside a small mountain range when they are suddenly ambushed by zesk and vorox. gelu reaches for his thornax launcher, but the fire glatorian stops him. ackar calls for malum, who is hiding in the cave. at hearing this, the vorox begin murmuring among themselves. ackar calls again, and malum comes out of his cave. he asks the two glatorian why they have come, and ackar tells malum that vulcanus is in trouble. malum refuses to help until ackar reveals that the bone hunters are involved. ackar then explains the situation, and malum agrees to help.