Roban was the third wife of the lampmaker who lived near the ancient city now named Orel. The duty fell upon her that day to take her husband's oldest jenta, Yudessi, to a nearby settlement where they would meet with a respected blacksmith who was looking for an apprentice to take as a wife. Yudessi was strong and able, yet also fair of appearance and respectful, and the blacksmith was minded to agree to the wedding. Roban and Yudessi set out for their home eager to bring the news to their family. But as they reached their home town a feeling overcame Roban that something was wrong. Their own dwelling lay at the far edge of the town, quite a distance from the others, looking out over the wastes that were inhabited only by feral tribes and wild animals. As they approached, they nevertheless saw a number of townspeople gathered around the house and there was much commotion and disorder. A neighbour called to them to hide their eyes, but Roban did not flinch. She saw her husband lying wounded, and his other wives dead. She saw the door smashed and the furniture overturned, but of the other jenta there was no sign. The tracks of enuk led off into the wasteland, already becoming obliterated by wind where the ground became sand and dust.

While the elders of the town gathered to make plans and collect their weapons, Roban wasted no time. Pausing only to collect a few items from her husband's workshop, she took the fastest enuk she could find and was about to set off when she found Yudessi at her side. Unable to dissuade the young one, despite the dangers of the mission, Roban pulled Yudessi up in front of her on the mount and together they rode off into the unknown territory.

Following the tracks, and with prayers to the Enarii, at last they came upon the rough settlement of the nomadic Ferals. The circle of tents around a fire was guarded by watchful sentries, and the tethered animals would stamp and holler at a strange scent or unexpected sound. But somebody watched over Roban; her approach took her behind an outcrop of rock downwind of her quarry, and she was able to observe them clearly from this cover before they were aware of her presence. Roban made preparations. As she soaked her cloak in a strange liquid taken from the small bundle she had brought with her, she gave Yudessi instructions to recover the jenta as soon as it became possible. Then Roban waited patiently for an opportunity, and was soon rewarded. As the nearest sentry turned aside to deal with some commotion among the enuk, Roban swiftly leapt on her own mount and charged straight for the centre of the camp, leaving Yudessi calling in alarm from the rocky hiding place.