Bain's prayers were answered: Captain Lin Fieran wanted him to stay on Sunsinger and be her crew for another evacuation trip to Lenga. When they got there, everyone had already been evacuated, so they went to the next world in the path of the Mashrami invasion.

That's when things got complicated by pirates and by people who didn't want to leave their homes.

To make matters worse, Bain knew Lin wanted him to stay on Sunsinger with her and Ganfer, just as much as he wanted to stay, but someone in authority was getting in the way. Lin had to keep a secret from him, and if she told him what it was, he might never be allowed back on board.