It becomes clear that Jerek will not be continuing on to Mare’s Crossing as Rathi initially believed he would, at least not yet. The boy considers going to the city on his own, since he can see it in the distance, but curiosity now weighs his feet. Rathi does not yet let on that he heard Jerek speaking to his old friend, but hangs around the temple, starts making friends with some of the priests, and assists them with little duties just as he did for the innkeeper at the Gilded Crown.
A few days later, it is to Rathi’s horror that the raiders who burnt down the Crowd ride up on the Temple of Yli. As they did at the inn, they threaten the priests and attempt to shake them down. Rathi’s stomach sinks to his boots as, once again, Jerek’s presence is used as a warning by the head priest. When Jerek appears, the bandits and their leader immediately recognize him, laughing in delight.
As before, the warknight approaches the band with sword drawn, but their leader pleasantly tells him, “There's no need for that this time,” and the rest part to let Jerek pass without qualm. This time when Jerek sheathes his sword, it’s in the belly of the nearest raider.
From behind an altar, Rathi watches in amazement as Jerek fights the twenty-odd bandits entirely on his own, swinging N’serric as if the cackling sword weighed nothing at all and slicing men cleanly in two. The raiders are reaped like wheat and only a few manage to flee, including their leader.
Not one inhabitant of the temple comes to harm.