Hansen’s life had never been one of happiness or ease. A lack of education offered him little opportunity, his work kept him among the poorest, and the looming threat of taxes weighed heavily on his mind. His days were hard and his nights restless. Yet, a favor for a friend would set his life on a new course. From a ship’s expedition to a confrontation with the Freeborn, his path now lies in the hands of the vast and treacherous seas of Chos—dreadful, beautiful, and untamed.