Viv comes down to breakfast at The Perch and finds Gallina once again lounging in her chair, clearly waiting for her. Brand jokes that Gallina is like an old tomcat watching for scraps, with Viv being the scraps. Viv tells Gallina that hanging around won't make Rackam appear, and the gnome glares before pointedly trimming her nails with a dagger. Viv eats and leaves quickly.

Heading into the foggy town, Viv stops at Sea-Song bakery, where Maylee flirtatiously chats her up about her mercenary life while a line of impatient customers builds behind her. Viv buys a sack of lassy buns and continues on, hoping to find Pitts to help with an idea she's had.

She finds Pitts on a dune, quietly reading the small orange book Fern gave him and reflecting on it. Viv gives him the buns as thanks and asks for his help hauling something. After haggling with the gnome brothers in the market, she purchases two green velvet-cushioned chairs and a small side table, which Pitts carts to Thistleburr.

At the bookshop, Fern doubts the furniture will fit, but they squeeze it under the east-facing window, creating a cozy reading nook. Settling in, Fern admits she's never asked Viv real questions. Viv explains the concept of being "in the tunnel" — focused only on getting through hard times. Fern asks about her leg, and Viv recounts the encounter with Rackam and the necromancer Varine the Pale, insisting Varine is far north and the Ravens will catch her. Viv claims she's eager to rejoin the mercenary life because nothing else compares to that intensity, though she seems to be convincing herself.

Potroast snubs Viv's offered treat, accepting it instead from Fern. After a quiet moment, Fern presents Viv's next book: Sea of Passion by Zelia Greatstrider, a racy romance, laughing that she's curious to hear Viv's reaction.