Loth is once again aboard the Rose Eternal, this time headed East. He meets the ship’s captain and Queen Rosarian’s lover, Gian Harlowe. Harlowe tells him they are headed to the Empire of the Twelve Lakes to meet the highest emperor of the East: the “Unceasing Emperor,” Dranghien Lakseng. On the way eastward, Thim, a Lacustrine shiphand, teaches Loth Lacustrine language and courtesy.

The Rose Eternal runs into a terrible storm that threatens to wreck it in the surrounding reefs. However, as if by a miracle, the ship manages to dock safely on the coast of an island. The crew believe this is Feather Island. On the beach they find the skeleton of the dragon Tané earlier saw washed up. The island’s scholars offer the crew shelter. The gesture touches Loth since he knows the scholars themselves live on meager supplies.

Elder Vara assures Tané and the other scholars that the crew members won’t raid their food supplies. Tané suggests they keep arms close in case the crew behave badly. In private, Tané has been practicing with the gem, discovering it has power over water. In fact, the Rose Eternal survived because Tané was pulling in the waves with the gem.