Wintrow is left feeling adrift watching his family bury Ephron and introduce Vivacia to the rest of the traders. He is unfamiliar with the traditions and is ready to head back to the monastery. However, like calls to like and Wintrow volunteers to spend the night on Vivacia, starting to create a bond with the liveship. Meanwhile, Brashen has been remotely babysitting Althea, who needs to sleep off the liquor. 

Ephron Vestrit is quickly brought aboard his ship, Vivacia on a litter. Standing by, Brashen is hit with the reality of his impending death. All of the family gathers to witness the final transference of essence to awaken The Vivacia. Ronica's plan and Kyle's gambit come to fruition to bypass Althea, to her despair and rage. Join us in discussing Brashen, Althea, and other viewpoints of this pivotal moment! 

The Vivacia heads back home to Bingtown, but not before Althea starts drowning in the ship's memories. We get insight into Wintrow's thoughts about his old home and Brashen's about his fears for the future and concerns for Althea. The homecoming isn't what Althea is expecting, however. Her father, Ephron, and patriarch of the Vestrit family, is soon to die. 

Kennit sails back to port in Divvytown and muses on the his plans for the future. Trying to convince Sorcor of the benefits of a king is harder than he imagines, and Kennit falls into a depression. After selling his wares, Kennit winds up at Bettel's Bagnio to visit Etta to try and shake this mood. 

Davad Restart intrudes upon Ronica and Ephron's privacy to relay an offer to the Vestrits. Ronica and Davad discuss current affairs, land wars, and politics in Bingtown. Ultimately, Ronica is against the New Traders and their ways, and Davad thinks change is inevitable. Ephron agrees with Ronica and says not to let them get a foothold in Bingtown. We discuss the opinions Davad and Ronica hold, as well as the changes no one is anticipating in the upcoming books. 

Ronica Vestrit is waiting for her husband to die. In her musings, we learn more about Bingtown, it's politics, and societal pressures. We talk about if Ephron Vestrit is a good or bad person, and the decisions both of the parents have made. 

We're reading Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb, book 1 of the Liveship Traders in The Realm of the Elderlings.

Brashen is haunted by serpents in his dreams and Kyle Haven during his waking hours. Althea is dreaming of her liveship, Vivacia, awakening and is also haunted by Kyle. And finally, we meet Paragon, a ship haunted by his past and surprisingly not Kyle. 

Luke and Emma pick up this week with Kennit strolling the beach of Other Island. With his ship, the Marietta, anchored at this treacherous place, time is of the essence. Kennit meets and speaks to the Other, gets his prophecy, and hightails it back to the ship. However, the magic of the island tries to ensnare and trap him.

Striding across the island is Captain Kennit. We meet this self assured but ruthless sailor while he tries to collect treasures from the fabled Others. Meanwhile, a priest in training, Wintrow Vestrit, creates some art with the Skill. Welcome to the Liveship Traders!

Emma and Luke are welcomed in to Liveship Traders with the serpants. We are introduced to Maulkin, Shreever, and company. The tangle is grossly described and we start to see some similarities to dragons.