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. 

'Old' man Fitz is writing down his thoughts about his life, while Nighteyes is chilling and Hap is doing chores. He discusses Starling visiting him and his lingering addiction to the Skill. Loneliness has not stopped eating away at him and he is not happy. 

FitzChivalry and Nighteyes stand in the quiet remains of the battle in the Stone Dragon Garden. They gather themselves and some supplies to move away while Fitz ponders his next steps. However, they run into Will trying to crawl towards the Skill Pillar and Fitz takes advantage of the opportunity to peek in on Regal with the Skill. 

Fitz and Nighteyes are in a fight for their life after chasing Will through the Skill Pillar to the Stone Dragon garden. Confronted with Regal's soldiers, Fitz has no hope until the Dragons start to stir. The 'Elderlings' finally rise to Six Duchies defense. 

Verity-as-Dragon rises. The Six Duchies savior flies off with goodbyes and Regal's soldiers come to claim the quarry. Part one of the finale fight is full of melancholy, coteries, magic, and dragons. 

Verity offers FitzChivalry a way to help out and Fitz accepts with the caveat of seeing Molly, Nettle, and Burrich one more time. As all with all bargains Fitz makes, this turns out poorly and he sees the start of Molly and Burrich's relationship and tells Verity to get on with his plan. Fitz hobbles to Girl-on-a-Dragon to meet the Fool, give memories, and block out his pain. 

Fitz returns through the Skill pillar and warns the company of Regal's army. Meanwhile, Verity is feeling a renewed sense of hope for his dragon with Kettle's help. Fitz feels left out and eventually drifts to Verity's dragon, where Kettle confronts him with some harsh truths. The end of this chapter steals the early hope away and leaves the company with a lifeless, but complete, statue and the dread of Regal's soldiers.