Rysn guides Vstim’s flotilla across the Reshi Sea, fretting over his illness and the risk to their venture. The “island” they seek reveals itself as a titanic greatshell, Relu-na, bearing a Reshi people who swim and live on its shell. Vstim urges boldness, and Rysn ascends to negotiate.

With guards Kylrm and Nlent, Rysn climbs through humid jungle, passing an imprisoned, tattooed Aimian. At the greatshell’s head, she meets the Reshi king (a woman) and Talik, the island’s trademaster. Talik dismisses the trade, citing respect and long-earned trust; he was trained in Thaylenah to discern exploitation.

Rysn argues for the islanders’ needs and invokes Vstim’s reputation—learning he once slew a coracot with Reshi hunters—but the king still refuses, insisting personal experience cannot be substituted. Desperate, Rysn declares she must appeal to higher authority and moves toward the fruit-offering ropes at the god’s maw.

Rysn climbs down the rope to address Relu-na directly. As the greatshell feeds, the rope tightens and snaps; she plummets into the sea. Spren cushion her fall, but she blacks out and awakens later in a hut, her legs shattered and immobile.

Vstim and Talik explain she survived and that the trade sought a rare larkin’s corpse—valued by kings. Vstim admits he staged a controlled test to give Rysn a true negotiation. Though the corpse deal succeeds, the island itself gifts Rysn a living larkin. They plan to remain while she recovers.