Dragon Haven
Chapters - Robin Hobb
Prologue
Sintara rests on the riverbank, irritably monitoring the anxious thoughts of the dragon keepers. The copper dragon Relpda is ill, and Mercor stands guard over her. Sintara resents that Mercor broadcast her true name to all the keepers without her consent. She observes Greft and Jerd slipping into the forest together, and deliberately sends Thymara after them - a test of her keeper's responses to the dragon's glamour and an attempt to create disruption. A letter between the Bird Keepers Erek (Bingtown) and Detozi (Trehaug) notes that families of Sedric and Alise are anxious for news of them.
POV: Sintara·On page: Thymara, Mercor, Relpda, Greft, Jerd·Mentioned: Alise Kincarron Finbok, Sedric Meldar, Kalo, Sylve, Tarman, Leftrin
Chapter 1: Suspicions
Alise crosses the muddy riverbank to speak with Leftrin, having a first direct mind-to-mind exchange with Sintara who reluctantly reveals her true name. Alise and Leftrin share a tender but frustrated moment by the water's edge, acknowledging their mutual attraction while accepting the obstacle of her marriage. Meanwhile Sedric is found ill and disoriented on the barge deck by the hunter Carson, who nurses him with coffee and hardtack. Sedric, suffering from accidentally drinking Relpda's blood, endures a disturbing mental bond with the copper dragon. Thymara finds Mercor standing guard over the sick Relpda and talks with Sylve about Greft's plans to establish a new settlement at Kelsingra where the keepers will make their own rules. Thymara grooms and tends to Sintara while reflecting on her difficult relationship with the proud blue dragon.
POV: Alise Kincarron Finbok·On page: Sintara, Leftrin, Mercor, Sedric Meldar, Carson, Davvie, Thymara, Sylve, Relpda, Jess, Arbuc·Mentioned: Greft, Hest Finbok, Althea Vestrit, Reyall
Chapter 2: Tricky Currents
Sedric wakes from a nightmare about Hest abandoning him. Confined to his cabin for days, he is troubled by the copper dragon Relpda's growing mental bond with him - a consequence of drinking her blood. Alise visits to offer him a way back to Cassarick, but he refuses. She returns to breakfast with Leftrin, where the sinister hunter Jess makes a veiled threat about their shared business arrangement - hinting he knows about Leftrin's wizardwood secret and demanding his cut of the dragon-parts scheme. Leftrin angrily ejects him and embraces Alise to silence her questions. Leftrin privately reflects on how Jess - a Chalcedean agent - came aboard at Cassarick, and how he manipulated Greft into proposing the slaughter of dragons for profit. Leftrin resolves to deal with Jess permanently.
POV: Sedric Meldar·On page: Alise Kincarron Finbok, Leftrin, Jess, Relpda, Davvie, Swarge, Tarman, Bellin, Hennesey·Mentioned: Hest Finbok, Carson, Greft
Chapter 3: First Kill
After an earthquake causes brief panic among dragons and keepers alike, the expedition continues upriver. Thymara observes the dragons growing healthier and more colourful, and reflects bitterly on having witnessed Greft and Jerd mating - a violation of Rain Wild custom - after Sintara manipulated her into seeing it. The next dawn Thymara hunts by the riverbank and is joined by Alise, who confides her feelings of uselessness. The two bond over fishing, with Alise making her first kill - a large flatfish. When Sintara charges into the water after a giant stingray, she accidentally knocks Thymara into the river; Mercor pulls Thymara from the water and saves her life. Sintara shows no remorse. Mercor identifies the unusual fish as creatures from the Great Blue Lake, suggesting the expedition is on the right course toward Kelsingra. Thymara is heartbroken by Sintara's carelessness; Sintara privately feels a confusing echo of remorse.
POV: Thymara·On page: Sintara, Alise Kincarron Finbok, Rapskal, Tats, Mercor, Sylve, Greft, Jerd, Leftrin·Mentioned: Heeby, Kalo, Relpda, Spit
Chapter 4: Blue Ink, Black Rain
Alise sits in the galley wearing the copper Elderling gown Leftrin has gifted her to soothe her river-scalded skin, writing up notes from a conversation with Mercor about Elderlings and the ancient city. Bellin has become a quiet friend, hinting that Leftrin cannot wait forever. Leftrin visits briefly and correctly interprets an Elderling navigational chart in Alise's portfolio as a river-mouth anchorage map. Alise goes to borrow ink from Sedric's cabin; he wakes in terror, mistaking Alise in her copper gown for the copper dragon Relpda. He nearly allows Alise to open his lap desk where his stolen dragon blood and scales are hidden. Alone, Sedric contemplates the vial of dragon blood, his deepening bond with Relpda, and whether killing the dragon might free him. A letter between Detozi and Erek reports what little Cassarick knows of the expedition's departure.
POV: Alise Kincarron Finbok·On page: Leftrin, Sedric Meldar, Bellin, Relpda·Mentioned: Swarge, Tarman, Hest Finbok, Ranculos, Spit, Sintara
Chapter 5: White Flood
Leftrin is strangling the hunter Jess on a sandbar - the confrontation over Jess's Chalcedean scheme finally erupting into violence - when a massive white flood wave generated by the earthquake strikes. Both men are swept away. Leftrin clings to a log and eventually whistles for Tarman, who comes to rescue him. Meanwhile Sintara, carrying both Thymara and Alise on her back, battles the flooded river toward the shore as the two women encourage her. Dragons trumpet Mercor's instruction to swim for the trees. The scattered survivors make for the forest edge and the stranded keepers take stock: Rapskal and his dragon Heeby are missing, along with keepers Greft and Jerd, and dragons Veras, the silver, and the copper. Tats informs Thymara of Rapskal's disappearance, leaving her numb with grief and guilt.
POV: Leftrin·On page: Jess, Tarman, Alise Kincarron Finbok, Thymara, Sintara, Tats, Sylve, Mercor, Veras, Jerd, Greft, Ranculos, Kase, Boxter, Spit, Arbuc·Mentioned: Rapskal, Heeby, Relpda, Warken, Alum, Sedric Meldar, Hest Finbok
Chapter 6: Decision Point
Sedric wakes in the jaws of Relpda, who has been carrying him through the flooded river. He coaxes the exhausted copper dragon toward the shore with flattery. They find a logjam near the trees - no true shore exists in the flood. As Sedric struggles to stabilise logs for the dragon, the hunter Jess appears, having survived the wave. Jess reveals his full scheme: kill Relpda, butcher her for Chalcedean buyers, and split the fortune with Sedric. He shows he stole a scarlet dragon scale from Sedric's room, proving he knows about Sedric's blood-collecting. Sedric stalls, trying to help Relpda. At the critical moment - when Jess is about to noose Relpda and stab her - Sedric warns the dragon mentally and shouts for her to flee. Jess stabs Relpda with a fish spear. Sedric races for Jess's boat, seizes the hatchet, and in the ensuing brutal fight knocks Jess unconscious. Relpda then erupts from the water and swallows Jess whole. The chapter ends with Sedric trembling in the bloodied boat, Jess dead.
POV: Sedric Meldar·On page: Relpda, Jess, Leftrin, Carson, Davvie·Mentioned: Alise Kincarron Finbok, Hest Finbok, Greft, Begasti Cored, Trader Candral, Drost
Chapter 7: Rescue
Stranded on a debris raft with the other survivors, Thymara climbs into the canopy at dawn to forage for food, bringing back bread leaf vine and sour pears. She has an uncomfortable encounter with Greft, who blocks her path on a branch and makes his romantic interest apparent. The keepers pool their resources - Thymara's forage, dead fish from the river, and shelf mushrooms. Greft asserts authority over the group's decision-making to mixed reception. Alise helps organise the building of a fire platform to serve as a beacon. Jerd mourns her missing dragon Veras, and Thymara tells her she saw Veras alive and swimming after the flood. Meanwhile, the chapter cuts to Sedric's perspective as Jess's scheme reaches its climax: Sedric ultimately fights Jess and Relpda kills and eats him. Thymara and Tats spend the afternoon foraging together in uncomfortable companionship, their friendship strained by old grievances.
POV: Thymara·On page: Alise Kincarron Finbok, Sylve, Tats, Greft, Jerd, Nortel, Harrikin, Lecter, Kase, Boxter, Sedric Meldar, Jess, Relpda, Spit, Arbuc·Mentioned: Veras, Rapskal, Heeby, Mercor
Chapter 8: Horns
The dragons' trumpeting wakes the survivors at dawn as the hunter Jess arrives in a small boat, having found Veras wedged in trees downstream and guided her back. He announces that Leftrin and the Tarman survived and are nearby. Alise is relieved but devastated to learn Sedric is still missing. Leftrin arrives and is reunited with Alise - an emotional moment on deck. Keeper Warken is confirmed dead, found floating in the river. Leftrin shuts down Greft's attempt to seize authority. That evening, dragon Baliper demands Warken's body - asserting the dragon custom of devouring their dead keepers to preserve their memories. After debate, the keepers agree and most pledge their bodies to their dragons in death; Thymara alone refuses, telling Sintara 'to get, you must give'. Alise searches Sedric's cabin and finds a locket with Hest's portrait engraved 'Always', beginning to suspect the true nature of Sedric and Hest's relationship. Tats takes Thymara's hand at the railing and tentatively expresses his feelings, revealing that Greft has been pressuring her to declare a choice.
POV: Alise Kincarron Finbok·On page: Carson, Leftrin, Veras, Jerd, Greft, Thymara, Tarman, Sintara, Mercor, Sylve, Tats, Baliper, Warken, Harrikin, Lecter, Swarge, Davvie, Skelly, Hest Finbok, Kase, Boxter, Nortel, Spit, Arbuc·Mentioned: Ranculos, Rapskal, Sedric Meldar, Jess, Reyall
Chapter 9: Discoveries
Sedric wakes on the debris logjam the morning after killing Jess and helping Relpda haul out onto logs. The copper dragon's bond with him is deepening; she speaks more clearly and uses his thoughts. Together they spend the morning laboriously constructing a log raft for Relpda to rest on, with the dragon actively helping push logs into place. Relpda's growing intelligence and connection to Sedric is evident - she begins to call him her keeper. He finds Jess's second boat with gear. Just as he despairs of surviving, Carson arrives by boat, having followed the horn upriver. Carson is astonished to find both Sedric and the dragon alive. Meanwhile on the Tarman, Alise talks with Leftrin over morning tea about the chances of finding Sedric alive (Leftrin is pessimistic). Alise has a frank conversation with Jerd about her mating with Tats and then with Greft. Sintara and the other dragons discuss continuing on toward Kelsingra. Thymara has a charged conversation with Tats about what Greft told her - that she should declare a partner or the men may fight over her. Thymara speaks frankly about Rapskal and the nature of their friendship.
POV: Sedric Meldar·On page: Relpda, Carson, Alise Kincarron Finbok, Leftrin, Jerd, Tats, Thymara, Sintara, Mercor, Ranculos, Sestican, Fente, Kalo·Mentioned: Jess, Greft, Rapskal, Heeby, Davvie
Chapter 10: Confessions
Carson returns with fruit and news, and the two men spend the evening by a fire-pot. Sedric gives a carefully partial account of how he survived. Carson speaks openly about his admiration for the expedition's purpose - mapping the river, finding Kelsingra, leaving a mark on the world. He describes Greft's grandiose plan to found a Rain Wild settlement and dismisses it as naive. When the second boat surfaces in conversation, Sedric confesses that Jess was at the logjam and that they fought; Relpda cheerfully announces she ate him. Carson takes the revelation of Jess's death and dragon-slaughter scheme in stride and expresses admiration for Sedric's courage. Carson gently touches Sedric's bruised face and makes clear his attraction. He offers to take Sedric back to Trehaug but acknowledges they are both bound by obligations. Meanwhile on the Tarman, Leftrin walks the night decks, reflects on his secret modification of Tarman (adding wizardwood legs, the source of Jess's leverage over him), and speaks with the ship. Tarman confirms Jess is gone and hints he knows more about it than he lets on. The ship tells Leftrin that Alise is awake and in Sedric's cabin, and Leftrin goes to find her.
POV: Sedric Meldar·On page: Relpda, Carson, Leftrin, Tarman, Alise Kincarron Finbok·Mentioned: Jess, Greft, Hest Finbok, Davvie, Swarge, Trader Candral
Chapter 11: Revelations
Alise wakes before dawn in Sedric's cabin after her first night with Leftrin, quietly leaving before anyone stirs. She reflects on what she has done - sleeping with a man for the first time in any real sense - defiantly refusing to regret it. Leftrin stands on deck barefoot communing with Tarman, sensing the ship shared that Kelsingra dream with Alise. Sedric rows back to the barge alongside Carson and the copper dragon Relpda, struggling physically but refusing to be towed, his mind raking over his life choices and the growing realisation of what Hest truly was and was not. Thymara and Tats go ashore to gather fruit from the canopy, sharing a frank conversation about proving themselves, the rules imposed on Rain Wild women, and Greft's new order. Rapskal arrives to challenge Tats over Thymara; a physical confrontation is averted only when Thymara leaps between trees, misjudges the branch, and wrenches the old wound on her back. Sedric's arrival is announced - Carson has found him alive - and Alise watches the two boats approach with a tumult of feelings: joy for her friend, dread at the return of her Bingtown past. Leftrin takes her hand quietly, uncertain whether Sedric's survival changes things between them.
POV: Alise Kincarron Finbok·On page: Leftrin, Sedric Meldar, Thymara, Tats, Carson, Relpda, Tarman, Nortel, Davvie·Mentioned: Rapskal, Hest Finbok
Chapter 12: The Locket
Relpda returns to the dragon camp trumpeting that she has eaten the hunter Jess, and that Sedric drank her blood and is now hers to make into an Elderling. The dragons debate furiously - Sestican invoking the ancient taboo against changing humans, Mercor explaining the lost lore of Elderlings. Sintara questions Mercor and learns that Thymara's accelerating changes are a blood consequence of dragon contact during a wound, and that without guidance the change could become deadly. Mercor warns Sintara to attend to her keeper. Sedric, back on the barge, bathes and eats in blessed simplicity, then retreats to his cabin where he finds the locket he had thought lost. He confronts the miniature portrait of Hest and recognises the man for what he truly is. Alise visits him; their stilted reunion leads to her asking the devastating question of whether Hest ever loved her. Sedric tells her the truth about Hest's preferences and about the circle of people in Bingtown who knew. Alise declares she is staying on the Tarman with Leftrin and is never going back. Sedric warns her not to trust Leftrin, passing on Jess's accusations about dragon-part smuggling for Chalced. Alise leaves furious. Sedric goes out on deck in despair, discovers scales growing along his jaw and on the back of his neck, and overwhelmed by his losses attempts to jump into the river. Carson, alerted by Relpda, tackles him on the deck, holds him through his tears, and kisses him. Sedric confesses his isolation and his bond to Relpda; Carson responds with warmth and invites him to his cabin. Meanwhile Thymara slips away from the bonfire missing Rapskal; Tats finds her in the dark and they kiss until Greft interrupts with a mocking announcement, and Thymara pulls back, telling Tats no.
POV: Sintara·On page: Relpda, Mercor, Sedric Meldar, Alise Kincarron Finbok, Carson, Thymara, Tats, Greft, Ranculos, Fente, Spit·Mentioned: Hest Finbok, Rapskal, Jess, Trader Candral, Reyall
Chapter 13: Decision Point
The expedition moves upriver again, now reduced to five small boats and short on almost everything. Thymara and Tats work side by side shaping replacement oars. They try to rebuild their friendship: Tats apologises for the fight with Rapskal, Thymara holds firm that she has not chosen him and is still deciding for herself. Evening finds Sedric venturing out of isolation for food, reflecting on Alise and what is owed to her. Alise finds him in the dark galley and the two have a painful reckoning about Hest's social circle, about how many people in Bingtown knew, and about Sophie's knowledge. Alise declares she will never return to Bingtown and tells Sedric she is staying with Leftrin. Sedric warns her again that Leftrin is in league with Jess to smuggle dragon parts to Chalced. Alise leaves furious. Sedric goes to the stern, counts his losses aloud, and on discovering scales growing on his face and neck attempts to jump overboard. Carson, warned by Relpda, stops him and pulls him back onto the deck. Carson holds Sedric through his breakdown, kisses him, and leads him to his cabin. Thymara slips away from the bonfire, mourning Rapskal; Tats comes and comforts her with touch. When Greft stumbles on them kissing and threatens to tell the others, Thymara shouts that nothing has been decided and Tats walks away after she refuses him again.
POV: Thymara·On page: Tats, Sedric Meldar, Alise Kincarron Finbok, Carson, Greft, Relpda, Bellin, Skelly, Swarge, Davvie, Spit·Mentioned: Nortel, Jerd, Rapskal, Hest Finbok, Jess
Chapter 14: Divergence
Days of rain give way to blue skies as the river narrows again. Leftrin observes how Sedric has changed - no longer the Bingtown dandy but quietly caring for Relpda and growing close to Carson. At a major tributary junction, the open acid-river to the west draws the dragons onward while Tarman suddenly and deliberately runs himself aground on the delta, refusing all attempts to free him. Leftrin cannot read why. They make camp for the night. Thymara and Alise explore the eastern freshwater tributary and find clear water, deer, and firm ground - a landscape unlike anything they have known. Alise reflects on Sedric's accusation against Leftrin and on her paralysis about trusting anyone again. Leftrin works himself to exhaustion trying to understand Tarman, then goes to bed early. That night he and Alise share the same dragon-sent dream of walking together through a living Kelsingra. Alise slips into Leftrin's cabin in the dark and they reconcile fully, agreeing they do not care who knows. At breakfast, Skelly reveals she too dreamed of Kelsingra through Tarman. In the morning Tarman heaves himself around to point his bow up the freshwater tributary and Leftrin understands: Kelsingra lies that way, not up the acid river.
POV: Leftrin·On page: Alise Kincarron Finbok, Swarge, Skelly, Tarman, Thymara, Sedric Meldar, Hennesey, Bellin, Jerd, Greft, Sylve, Spit·Mentioned: Carson, Relpda, Hest Finbok
Chapter 15: Tarman
Thymara brings Sintara fish she speared herself and confronts the dragon about what is being done to her body. Sintara deflects, taking pleasure in Thymara's descriptions of her growing beauty. Mercor interrupts, sniffing Thymara and warning Sintara that she cannot ignore her keeper's changes - the bond goes both ways and if Sintara is careless it could be fatal. Sintara nearly clashes with Mercor and retreats by demanding Thymara groom her in the freshwater river. On the barge, Leftrin and Skelly discover Tarman is still wedged and still defying them. Skelly speaks to the ship directly; Tarman responds by heaving himself bodily and lurching his bow around to point up the freshwater tributary. Dragons gather and tensions flare - another dragon wants to tear the liveship apart, but Kalo, revealing he was Kelaro in Maulkin's Tangle, commands silence and says Tarman shares serpent-kin memories. Tarman pulls himself free and moves decisively up the freshwater river. Keepers and crew scramble to get into boats and follow. Thymara paddles alongside Sedric and Sylve in the third boat; Sylve probes about Thymara's back injury and the changes there, hinting she knows what it is. Sedric overhears and realises with dread that his own scaling is being noticed. Sedric reflects on Carson and how completely different he is from Hest.
POV: Sintara·On page: Thymara, Mercor, Leftrin, Skelly, Tarman, Kalo, Sedric Meldar, Sylve, Ranculos, Baliper, Fente, Greft, Tats, Alise Kincarron Finbok, Spit, Arbuc·Mentioned: Carson, Hest Finbok
Chapter 16: Reeds
The expedition has entered an immense reed-choked slough with no discernible banks. Leftrin surveys the flat, open landscape from Tarman's bow as the exhausted dragons trudge forward through shallow water. Alise joins him and the two share their doubts about Tarman's route while admitting they have no better option. They discover a perfect rectangle of stunted reeds - Alise wades in and finds cut stone beneath. Mercor identifies it as a dragon warming platform, activates it by pulling a hidden trigger, and the dragons crowd around the glowing, heated pad in bliss. Through Relpda, Sedric channels Elderling memories about such platforms and about Kelsingra itself having an entire warm plaza. Alise determines this is not Kelsingra but an Elderling country estate. Thymara and Tats have a tense late-night conversation at the stern: she admits she is afraid of pregnancy and refuses again, he issues an ultimatum and she refuses him; a dragon's roar interrupts them. Kalo is enraged - Greft has crept among the sleeping dragons in the night carrying a glass bottle, trying to take blood. Kalo throws Greft into the river. Carson dives in and saves him. Leftrin interrogates Greft on deck. Sylve reveals the glass bottle; Greft explodes, accusing the whole expedition of being a scheme to slaughter the dragons for Chalced, implicating Leftrin, Alise, and Sedric. He reveals he was told all this by Jess. Leftrin punches him. Greft, exposed and broken, admits he wanted dragon blood to try to cure the Rain Wild changes killing him. Alise picks up the bottle and Leftrin swears on Tarman that he never agreed to the Chalcedean scheme. Alise chooses to believe him.
POV: Leftrin·On page: Alise Kincarron Finbok, Mercor, Sedric Meldar, Thymara, Tats, Greft, Kalo, Sylve, Swarge, Skelly, Alum, Tarman, Relpda, Carson, Davvie, Spit·Mentioned: Jess
Chapter 17: Changes
Sedric stands at dawn on Tarman's deck watching the warming-platform dragons in the mist. He and Carson share a tender moment before the demands of the day intrude. Sedric reflects on the copper scales growing at his nape - Relpda is guiding his change, giving him Elderling colouring. He and Carson discuss what the transformation means, and what their future will look like when Sedric has outlived ordinary human span. The massed dragons emerge from the warming water, and Mercor and Kalo summon all the humans on deck to settle grievances. Kalo demands a new keeper now that Greft has been cast out; the silver also demands a keeper. Sintara publicly claims Thymara as her exclusive keeper in front of Kalo, preventing him from taking her. Kalo chooses Davvie instead, to Carson's reluctant acceptance. Spit then demands Carson himself as his keeper, and Carson surprisingly agrees - an act Sedric recognises as Carson choosing to transform alongside him. Through this confrontation the dragons reassert their authority, insisting they are dragons and not livestock. Mercor declares it is time to move on. Sintara, alone on the warming platform for a moment, reflects on what the bond with Thymara is actually doing to both of them and accepts that she must guide her keeper's changes rather than ignore them.
POV: Sedric Meldar·On page: Carson, Sintara, Relpda, Mercor, Kalo, Thymara, Davvie, Leftrin, Alise Kincarron Finbok, Sylve, Jerd, Greft, Tarman, Spit
Chapter 18: Gone Astray
The expedition is lost in a featureless slough. Thymara, on night watch at Tarman's bow, feels the vertigo of staring at an endless field of stars over flat water. The forest is long gone. Food is scarce and monotonous; her back wound throbs. Tats and Lecter confront Greft about sharing the boat and gear for hunting - Greft refuses; Tats calmly tells him they are taking it anyway. Greft insults Thymara as she offers him pity. In the morning the boat and all the gear are gone - Greft has slipped away in the night, taking ship's bread too. Leftrin sends Carson and Sedric to retrieve the boat. On the barge, Jerd collapses in Thymara's arms, miscarrying. Bellin takes charge of the delivery with Skelly, Sylve, and Thymara present. The baby - a girl with no legs, only a partial tail - cannot have survived to term. Bellin delivers a blunt warning to all the young women about the consequences of unprotected sex on the expedition. Sylve and Thymara carry the tiny body to the rail where Jerd's dragon Veras is waiting; Sylve insists on looking before the child is given to the dragon. Meanwhile Carson and Sedric search through the gallator-infested shallows and find Greft's overturned boat. Greft is alive but paralysed from gallator venom and dying. He confesses in slurred words that he took the dragon-part specimens from Sedric's room and consumed them trying to cure his Rain Wild changes. He dies. eats the body. Carson discovers the empty specimen bottles and Sedric confesses everything - the plan to harvest dragon parts for Chalced, the bottles hidden in his room, how Greft found them. Carson is shaken but listens.
POV: Thymara·On page: Tats, Greft, Jerd, Bellin, Sylve, Skelly, Alise Kincarron Finbok, Swarge, Carson, Sedric Meldar, Harrikin, Leftrin, Tarman, Spit·Mentioned: Sintara, Rapskal
Chapter 19: Mud and Wings
Tarman grinds to a halt in the shallow slough and folds his legs, settling in the mud. The expedition is effectively stranded. Leftrin discusses with Alise whether to turn back; she refuses to go back ever. The mood aboard is at its lowest since the wave - Greft's death has left a particular pall. Leftrin confides his own fears and then says he will make a decision in the morning. Thymara asks Sylve to look at her back in private. Sylve discovers the wound is not infected but contains something bony growing out of it on both sides of the spine. Thymara makes her promise not to tell anyone for a day. Then Thymara goes to Sintara and demands to know what has been done to her. Sintara reveals, almost proudly, that Thymara is growing wings - the first winged Elderling in recorded dragon memory. The wings break free of their concealment in a painful rush. Thymara is horrified, then furious. She demands to know why, if she has wings, they cannot be large enough to fly. Sintara dismisses the idea of flight since she herself cannot fly. Thymara calls her stupid and lazy. Sintara swings her wing and knocks Thymara into the water. When Sintara advances on her again, Mercor intervenes. At the height of the confrontation a red shape dives out of the clouds - it is Heeby, with Rapskal on her back. He shouts that he has found Kelsingra, half a day's flight to the east. Meanwhile Sedric makes full confession to Alise in the galley - the dragon-part plan, the Chalcedean merchant, everything. Alise listens, then smashes one of the bottles and removes the last remaining scale, replacing Hest's portrait in the locket with it. She gives the locket back to Sedric. Together they burn Hest's portrait and a lock of his hair. They weep and laugh and are friends again.
POV: Leftrin·On page: Alise Kincarron Finbok, Thymara, Sylve, Sintara, Sedric Meldar, Mercor, Rapskal, Heeby, Tarman, Swarge, Fente, Spit·Mentioned: Hest Finbok