The Merryweather heads to Stalwirland, on one last stop before wintering in Rephidim for a four month (or more) refit. Captain Barnacle wishes to secure Willow's services after the hiatus, and so offers her an incentive and a promise of a job waiting for her should she meet up with the ship again after the four month break. Willow has one more requirement: that Burr be considered a member of the crew, and not cargo. Barnacle balks at this at first, but at least comes to an agreement.

Willow fills out some paperwork, and frees Burr, explaining that she's not punishing him or ditching him. In fact, she's rather hoping that he'll stick around for a while … but this way, he'll actually get paid for his work, and maybe can save it up for Thorn. Burr is a bit scared by the prospect, but he's agreeable to anything that will help Thorn.

They arrive in Xanashire, part of Stalwirland, at the town of Falcon's Watch. There, they go into a tavern, where Whitehead promptly manages to insult Lady Calderas (also known as Grandmother Martinette). Willow plays the diplomat, though, apologizing and smoothing things over as Whitehead beats a hasty retreat. She gets to talk with the lioness, and learns that Jynx is her grandson. She also learns that there are some adventurers in the area who might help her get to Half Valley, where she can hopefully find a ride to Kroz.

She meets the adventuring team of Phai'Baioh, Aero Flynt, Amelie Fireheart, the foppish fox, and Jak Nakk, along with the dream mage, Mystico the Magnificent. Willow arranges to travel with them back to Half Valley, and pays Mystico a copper piece for his assistance in helping her recover some of her past – her very earliest memories – through dream magic.

In the attic of the tavern, Mystico performs his ritual, and Willow has a vision – from a perspective outside of her body – of the fate of the Skreek maid trying to carry away the newborn Chiria Naochi … murdered by a magical creature fashioned from water, and in control of the forest itself. Willow is not entirely satisfied by this attempt to answer her questions … but it still shows her more than she knew before, and she pays Mystico his fee.