While travelling to the port town of Whitesails to purchase supplies for rebuilding the village, Will and Menel rescue wandering trader Tonio and his partner, halfling bard Robina "Bee" Goodfellow from a rabid giant ape. They decide to continue their travels together, and Will ends up learning from Bee how his foster parents once vanquished a wyvern to save the lives of a half-elf girl and her boyfriend. On their way, Tonio relates that a royal succession struggle might be brewing between the previous king's successor, Prince Owen, and his brother, rightful crown prince and Whitesail's ruler, Prince Ethelbald Rex Fertile.