Davad Restart is a walking faux pas. He lucks his way into crashing the courting meeting with the Khuprus family and talks with Jani and Ronica. We learn more about Malta's feelings for Reyn and Reyn's depth of feeling for Malta. She still has some growing up to do. 

Keffria and Ronica are helping Malta get ready for Reyn Khuprus' visit to the Vestrit house. We dive into Malta's thought process about this event and Ronica's feelings about how this should go. A wrench gets thrown into the mix with Davad Restart showing up, uninvited. 

We are introduced to the oft-heard of Satrap Cosgo and his Companion of the Heart, Serilla. With the introduction of the other side of the Bingtown Trader complaints, we discuss Cosgo's inept leadership and his 'ally', Chalced. During the conversation, we learn more of Serilla's disdain for the Satrap and her passion for Bingtown. 

In this episode, we discuss Althea's attitude toward Grag and compare Brashen with him. We learn more of Brashen's background in Bingtown and more of Grag's intentions. The start of the trouble with Chalced begins, as well. 

We're reading Mad Ship by Robin Hobb, book 2 of the Liveship Traders in The Realm of the Elderlings.

Captain Kennit's leg surgery is about to begin, but Wintrow dares not start with out the medical chest. Etta employs some hard questioning and finds the young priest his supplies. Vivacia and Wintrow give what strength they can and link with Kennit, swiftly completing the procedure. In the aftermath, the waiting begins as Vivacia implores Wintrow to have faith and believe that the pirate will survive. 

In the first half of chapter 4, Wintrow and Vivacia are still reeling in the aftermath of the pirate takeover. Vivacia is looking to the future, while Wintrow is caught in between Vivacia, Etta, and Kennit's wishes. He dreads the upcoming surgery. Brashen is also put into a dilemma of morality as he slides further into piracy. 

Jani Khuprus wanders the ruins of a dark Elderling city ruin. She finds her son Reyn, and they discuss the history and merits of the wizardwood logs while he trails his fingers on the last remaining log. Jani is able to distract her son with thoughts of Malta, but Tintaglia waits still. 

We catch up with Wintrow and Vivacia, trying to acclimate to the change of ownership. Vivacia is looking ahead to the new direction her life is going, while Wintrow still focuses inwards and his own moral dilemmas and his herculean task of healing Kennit's leg. Kennit is focused on keeping control of his life where he can, but his future is looking bleak. 

We dive into Paragon's state of mind, trying to process the fact that his family, the Ludlucks, want to sell him. He desperately tries to ignore Amber as she tells him, but ultimately he deals with the truth. Hearing his potential end as chopped up Wizardwood, Paragon is able to convince Amber to burn him instead. Of course, Amber is going to try and find a way out of that path, if possible. 

We rejoin Maulkin, Shreever, and Sessurea in the fight to survive and find She Who Remembers. We answer some fan questions as usual at the end and look to the future of this trilogy.