The life of everyone in the Vestrit family is about to change when it seems that the current patriarch is close to succumbing to his illness, an event that will also fully awaken the family’s liveship Vivacia. Matriach Ronica Vestrit not only has to cope with her husbands impending death, but also the family’s failing fortune. Althea hopes to succeed her father as captain. Meanwhile, her nephew Wintrow is none too pleased to leave his life in the monastery behind to be with his family again.

At the same time, the ambitious pirate captain Kennit dreams of uniting all of the Pirate Isles under himself as king. To achieve this, he intends to capture one of the rare liveships.