Alina and Mal journey to Novyi Zem, hoping for a better life. While children, they once dreamed of magic ships, but now they’re traveling on a decrepit trader, manned by a rough crew. While Mal blends in, Alina’s strange demeanor frightens everyone, and the captain asks her to stay below deck. She suffers nightmares about the epic battle that recently took place between her and the evil Darkling. She shudders to remember the Fold, the black sea of darkness that divides the land, and the bloodthirsty creatures called volcra that inhabit it. Alina misses her power—an ability to summon light—which she cannot use because it will reveal her identity as the Sun Summoner, who some see as a saint. As the ship approaches the harbor, Alina surveys the vessels from countries like Fjerda and Shu Han, enemies of Ravka, wondering whether she and Mal can find safety.

The point of view switches to first person, with Alina narrating. She and Mal have settled in a small city named Cofton, which seems unreal to her—a far wealthier and more stable environment than she ever knew in war-torn Ravka. Cofton prospers from the trade of the opium-like drug jurda.