The Rose Eternal encounters a devastating storm in the Sundance Sea. Loth, unable to remain in his cabin, ventures onto the deck and witnesses the crew's desperate struggle against mountainous waves and splintering masts. When the lookout spots an uncharted island, Captain Harlowe orders the ship toward it despite Plume's objections, reasoning that running aground is preferable to being destroyed or becalmed at sea. The ship is mysteriously pulled through a treacherous coral reef without damage, and though all four anchors fail to slow it, the Rose Eternal comes to a sudden, inexplicable stop in the shallows.

On shore, the scouting party encounters scholars in red robes on Feather Island, a sacred place housing treasured Eastern documents. Behind them lies the enormous skeleton of a sea creature. Harlowe negotiates shelter and permission to collect water in exchange for surrendering all weapons. The scholars fear the outsiders may carry plague. The crew disarms and climbs a long stairway carved into the cliff to a traditional Eastern house, where they settle in for the night.

The perspective shifts to Tané, who is revealed to have guided the ship through the reef using the rising jewel of Neporo—a blue jewel she has been learning to control, capable of manipulating water. She has spent her exile on Feather Island mastering this power, and now plans to steal the Western ship to pursue the Golden Empress, who holds her dragon Nayimathun captive. Elder Vara, who reveals himself as the legendary Driftwood Prince—a former dragonrider crippled by pirates—gives Tané navigational instructions to reach Komoridu, the island where the Golden Empress may be heading, and sends her off with his blessing.

Tané swims to the Rose Eternal and defeats several crew members in combat. Loth, unable to sleep, spots her from the beach and swims after her. He confronts her on the ship, but Tané overpowers him. Before she knocks him unconscious, Loth sees that she holds a jewel identical to the one Ead possesses and whispers in recognition, "The other jewel." Tané pauses, intrigued, but then strikes him down as shouts rise from the beach. The chapter ends with Loth's last image: Tané's scarred face and its fishhook-shaped mark.