Aria (unaccompanied, unarmed, unarmoured) was cornered in a dark alley by a Malani. He threatened her and told her to turn up, with (if she chooses) her champion to account for the insult upon the Malani caused by the state of the Alynxfish skin, and the lack of ceremony with which it was deposited with them.
This deeply offends A. He was already unimpressed with the Malani attitude towards the Colymar family who lost their child to the Alynxfish in the first place. He regards them as highly dishonourable.
Along with the others (Rastar, Laika, Aria, Varaema, Saronil) he turns up at the local Malani manor to have it out. With HUGE self-restraint, he does not sort out the matter of honour himself, internally acknowledging his involvement would not help resolve matters - at least not without provoking open warfare.
The Malani agree to accept 150L for the damage to the fish skin, and an apology at the Prince's court to resolve the insult. There is still a fight, after a Humakti Malani challenges Saronil for his sword, successfully. Varaema heals Saronil, at considerable personal cost.
At the Sun Dome Temple, Lord Fallanor questions A about the Humakt challenge sword and its loss. He then charges A to return a week before Sacred Time to be given an errand - with the proviso that the other party members would be useful to have along too. He gives no details of the task.
Saronil and the party ascend the Thousand Steps to the Prince's court, where Kallyr Starbrow hears his apology with disinterest and the matter is declared closed.
After a few weeks, A visits Fallanor again to receive his mission. There is a pool by Swenstown. A is to gather its water in Orgorvale Summer’s amphora but not to invoke her blessing. (The amphora is gold, Yelm(alio)’s sacred metal.) It should ideally be returned by Fireday: if not then, by Sacred Time.
A’s low-key pal Helver button-holes him after the meeting for a chat. A honours the confidence of his assignment, but the two have a good chin-wag anyway, Helver wondering aloud whether the errand is related to the Lightbringer’s Quest reenactment in Sacred Time. A has no comment. (He didn’t know anyway, although it’s an entirely sound guess.) Helver reminds A about the iron spear: A had not forgotten. He does concede one useful piece of intel: immediately the challenge sword had been won from Saronil, Graslean won it off its new owner.
The band gets back together and goes to Swenstown, gets the water, starts returning. The party’s riding animals are sickening, but happier after a decent diet. But they pass a stead where there's no smoke through the thatch and the cattle appear dead. There is a sickness about this place.