From Chade's visit, Fitz has become a bit restless. He has taken it upon himself to do a bunch of chores around his cottage until Starling and Hap come back. When they do, Hap doesn't seem very pleased. Fitz and Starling get reacquainted, and he sneaks out at night to talk to his boy, Hap. Fitz finds out about Starling's secret and dreads the future confrontation. 

FitzChivalry Farseer has taken the name of Tom Badgerlock, has taken in a boy named Mishap, and taken a break from the world. He's 35 years old in a small cottage, raising his 15 year old boy and keeping Nighteyes company. The peace is shattered when Chade, his old mentor, comes to visit. 

We wrap up the Liveship Traders by discussing Shreever's cocooning and the journey the serpents made upriver. We talk about our thoughts on the book, the trilogy, and look forward to Tawny Man and Fool's Errand! 

Content Warning: Discussion and conclusion of Althea's arc, with talk of sexual assault.

Bingtown is settling down after the showdown among Jamaillia, the Pirate Isles, and the liveship crews. Spring and trade has come back to town; Keffria and Ronica are feeling hopeful about the future. Former Companion Serilla brings some news, and we discuss the where the characters end up. 

A time jump shows Malta and Reyn attend a gala in Jamaillia. Along with Etta and Wintrow, they're the guests of honor of Satrap Cosgo. We discuss how the trade arrangements are coming along and how relationships evolved after the climax. 

Tintaglia lands among the Pirates, Bingtowners, and allies. She makes demands and tries to dictact their lives for her own end but Wintrow stands strong before her. More negotiations spring up to determine the human side of an arrangement. Brashen and Althea head back to Paragon, ready to sail with the Serpents in the morning, and they snipe at each other, upset with miscommunication. 

Althea and Brashen are reunited, but there remains a distance between them that is misunderstood. The closeness of Paragon's blue eyes, Brashen's insistence to continue loving the ship, and Althea's own memories create a small rift. Wintrow calls everyone to Vivacia and meets Amber for the first time. When everyone is gathered, the crews, captains, captives, and diplomats are presented with a plan to help the serpents. 

Wintrow Vestrit takes command of Vivacia in the wake of King Kennit's death. He struggles to fill the void left by his mentor and get the crew out alive from the Jamaillian fleet threat. Brashen and Althea, reunited on Paragon, fight next to Vivacia. Loss looms over all of the crewmates as they're still in danger. 

Paragon and Vivacia rush to Kennit's rescue, carrying their crews. The Jamaillian crew won't give Satrap Cosgo and Kennit up alive and turn to kill the two. Amidst the rescue attempt, Malta and Reyn reunite, Etta and Wintrow rush towards Kennit, they save the Satrap, and Kennit is ultimately reunited with his family liveship.