Wintrow is brought to an auction as a slave where his father is forced to buy him. He is tattooed, turned over to Torg, and tattooed again with Vivacia's likeness. She has trepidations about the upcoming journey and is forced to confront more of her independent side in Wintrow's absence. In Candletown, Brashen and Althea both find separate ships to leave on while desperately trying not to think of each other. 

Wintow has been locked up for days, wrestling with the decision to tell his father to bail him out or to stay a slave. Finally, he sees Torg who seems to take that decision out of Wintrow's hands. On the Marietta, Kennit is struggling to heal and keep control of himself with Etta and Sorcor worrying about his wellbeing. Etta has tortured the slaveship captives to gain information about the next liveship they can chase, The Vivacia. 

Amber and Paragon have been bonding in Bingtown. One day, she brings a carved necklace for Paragon, who grows suspicious of her motives. Elsewhere in Bingtown, the Vestrit household is quiet while Ronica and Keffria discuss their plans for the future. A Rain Wild gong rings out and a courting gift is dropped off for Malta, who throws a tantrum and steals it after the adults want to send it back. 

The Reaper has docked in Candletown and Althea is ready to head back to Bingtown with a ship's ticket to claim Vivacia as her own. However, the revelation of Althea's gender forces her off the ship without it and with a deeping sense of hopelessness. In the meantime, Brashen is looking forward to continuing his relationship with Althea and waits for her to show up at his inn. 

The Old Traders have been called by their kin, the Rain Wild Traders, to a meeting. Malta is excited to go to a party, while her mother, Keffria, and Ronica are worried about what this means. The political landscape is looking grim for Bingtown and for the Vestrits as Malta is getting them into even more trouble by introducing herself to the Khuprus family. 

Wintow ventures into Jamaillia and encounters the horrors of slavery, Vivacia mourns the loss of her companion, and Kennit bites off more than he can chew with freeing a slave ship of his own. Or should we say a serpent bit off more than it could chew. 

Captain Kennit misses another opportunity to capture a liveship, but Etta suggests a plan that might work for the future. Meanwhile, both of our liveships, Paragon and Vivacia, are in turmoil; the former from being sold soon and the latter from Wintrow leaving in the harbor of Jamaillia amidst sleeping serpents.  Althea and Brashen have to contend with a live serpent, however, trying to get a meal and not caring whether it sinks their ship or not. They struggle to survive and to navigate their new relationship dynamics. 

Ronica and Keffria have to deal with and confront Malta's conniving and manipulations when she invited Cerwin Trell to the Vestrit home. Ronica also has to come to grips with her lack of understanding of her own family. Keffria finally comes grasps for her place in the household and has a discussion with her mother about their future plans. Meanwhile, Vivacia and Wintrow have arrived in Jamaillia, finally. Wintrow has been effectively ostracized from the crew by his father despite proving that he isn't a coward, and he is at a breaking point. Vivacia is worried about what might come in the city. 

Content Warning: Talk of sexual assault, rape, and consent starts at 1:15:00 until 1:30:00 in regards to Althea's past.

After Cress, Wintrow has been shunned by the Vivacia's crew for cowardice. He's lived in misery until the extent of his recent injury forces him to come to terms with losing a finger. He confronts Kyle to get it amputated, and he puts on a strong display for the crew, proving he is not a coward or afraid of pain. Meanwhile, in Bingtown, Paragon is getting introduced to our favorite woodworker, Amber.