Paragon is sailing in the Pirate Isles. Amber and Althea spot a pirate ship and chaos erupts on the deck. Brashen has to take command while he tries to keep Althea safe. Amber and Lavoy have a stand off about arming Paragon wihle the ship himself is eager to fight and kill. The aftermath ends up as confusing as the start of the fight and tensions remain high on the seas. 

Tintaglia hunts this chapter. She wonders what has become of her kind and visits a familiar city, Kelsingra. Malta, Satrap Cosgo, and Kekki are pulled from their boat onto a Chalcedean ship and into a new danger. She has to become used to a new status quo. 

Wintrow Vestrit repairs his body and the dragon within Vivacia forces them to confront who the ship really is. Vivacia is overcome by the fact that she was born out of death, and there is a struggle for control. Vivacia becomes inert and dead. Kennit, Wintrow, and Etta go below to discuss what just happened and the pirate captain decides he will do the impossible once again. 

Ronica and Rache catch up and we learn of the plan to unite all of Bingtown's groups. The Old Traders hold their first meeting since the war began and slowly start to knit the wounds together. Ronica's problems are brushed aside, but Grag Tenira steps in for her. Serilla gets increasingly flustered at the erosion of her perceived power. 

Companion Serilla is stressed. In between complaining about Bingtown not being like she thought and consolidating her power, she is sitting in her study scared of assassins. We discuss her paranoia, power-hungry attitude, and how unhelpful she is being. Meanwhile, Ronica Vestrit has set herself up as an adversary to Serilla, trying to galvanize the city to fix itself and prove Davad's innocence. 

Althea is enjoying the respect she earned in the serpent attack. Things on Paragon are settling into a routine, but Paragon is as moody as ever and focused on Kennit. Lavoy seems to be cracking down on the crew and following orders, but Brashen needs Althea's opinions on the unsavory first mate. They stand at a crossroads and must choose their path forward. 

After being born once again, Tintaglia is hungry. She settles down for a nap after her meal and suddenly remembers those pesky humans. Reyn and Selden are saved from the rising mud and Malta is spotted on the Rain Wild River. Good deed done for the decade, the dragon flies away. 

Wintrow is struggling to recover from She Who Remember's toxins, and Kennit, Etta, and especially Vivacia are worried. He is moved to the figurehead while he tries to ignore the pain and hide from waking up. However, he meets Vivacia's dragon, who gives him a dose of reality. 

Ronica Vestrit is a survivor. She stays in Bingtown with Rache, and a surprise conversation with Cerwin Trell directs her ire towards Serilla. However, the Satrap's Companion wants to consolidate her current power and gain a solid foothold in Bingtown. She promises to end hostilities with New Trader and Chalcedean alike while the city is looking for answers. 

Malta has struggled through the night to row Satrap Cosgo and Kekki to shore and Trehaug. Unfortunately, the river is swift and both of her passengers are useless. Reyn and Selden try to stay afloat in the Rooster Chamber, while Keffria and Jani dig through the ruins and hold out hope that their children survive.