The Miranda comes within sight of the Vilasa silands and Keena brings Nate his maps and his bottle of Rum. Kalen asks how they are planning to approach the islands. Polly suggests that if some parts of the island look to be more forest covered than others then that would be a good place to start the search for the monkeys. Unfortunately, the maps seem to inidcate that all the islands are basically tree lined mountains with some islands having inhabitable beaches. When Dextrin compares his map to Nate's, they notice that a sizable island that is marked on the captain's map is not marked on the map from the Sanctan palace library. This is all the more odd as Dextrin's map is clearly a much more recent version that looks copied from a survey for an encyclopedia. Since the only place Nate has visited here is the very rocky ship-dashing south west coast, they decide to start with the mystery island which is, conveniently the furthest away from Nate's previous adventures, on the north east side of the group. The map indicates a sheltered inlet here which would seem to make an excellent place to anchor. The approach is either from the east seas or through a narrow looking channel between two islands. Although it means taking a longer route, they wisely decide they will avoid the channel which looks perfect for an ambush and Baglin steers the ship northwards.

Nate decides to check on the unsociable guest who is looking very pallid and unwell, although Nate notices he is not coughing or sweating, just looking quite sickly. Nate offers to get Keena to bring a brew to the strangers cabin which he accepts gratefully.

Dextrin pulls his mirror out of it's case and finds the Visier's image already framed within it. He askes for updates and Dextrin tells him that they have reached the Vilasa and hope to disembark today. The Visier seem extremely interested in the island not marked on his map and concurs that they should begin their search there. He tells Dextrin that the Prince is still holding out but a consequence of having his power destracted by keeping the Price alive has enabled a doomed witch do escape his dungeons. The Visier is surprised to hear the group managed to escape the clutches of a Siren, and even more surprised that the only female member of the mission managed to kill it. He muses that the huntress must be especially good at what she does, and perhaps is not quite what she seems. Overall the Visier seems pleased with Dextrin and his progress and asks for updates as things progress.

Keena offers the brew to the stranger and he takes the brew but doesn't take his eyes of her. She backs away feeling thoroughly creeped out and forgets to tell him that we'll be reaching the islands today.

Approaching the islands later in the day and seagulls approach the vessel. Polly asks one of them if it knows where we can find monkeys on the island. The bird dissapears for a while but eventually returns with the message that there is only one monkey on the island. Polly can't get much more out of it than that. Seagulls, she notes, are not the exactly the brightest members of the winged kingdom.

Night falls as the ship reaches the inlet and the crew drop anchor. The island is inhabited and the settlement seems much larger than anyone had expected. Although there are no ships of any notable size in the small harbour and no other ships anchored in sight. Cass, Nate, Dextrin, Kalen and Sycthe all decide to head ashore to scope the place out. Before they leave, Dextrin patiently advises Kalen that wearing royal colours and full armour is probably not the incognito choice and while everyone is waiting for him to get changed, Nate goes to tell the stranger that the ship has arrived at an island at the north east of the Vilasa group. The stranger seems oddly unconcerned about the exact location and asks to stay aboard the ship for the night and dismebark in the morning. He also asks who is going ashore for the evening. Nate instructs Baglin to keep an eye on him. Polly also decides to stay aboard and the men leave with Sythe.

Polly decides to investigate the area and flys over the larger island opposite. It is also inhabited on the nearest beach. The far side appears to have a much smaller settlement, or possibly only a hunting party, she is not sure. The land is forested and mountainous towards the centre and there is nothing of note above the canopies. The northern and southern coasts drop straight into the sea with no beaches. She notices that the channel they could have sailed through seems obscured by vegetation.

Ashore and the party decides to head to the nearest bar where they order drinks. Cass scuppers Nate's attempts to lose the group and Dextrin tries to approach a very pretty looking readhaired lady in green robes who is seated, most incongruously, on her own. Kalen is left awkwardly offering to buy Sycthe a drink while Dextrin is steered away from his target by a drunk inhabitant. Dextrin offers the man some rum and asks what he should buy the pretty lady to drink, at which point Dextrin casts his intrigue spell on the now conflicted looking man. The man both fears and revears the lady in the corner and is conflicted because he only wants to do what she wants him to do in this situation, only he's not sure what that is. It is clear that he would defend her rigorously. Dextrin orders whatever the lady is drinking and the barman raises his eyebrows before setting down a steaming pewter mug on the bar.

Before Dextrin can try again however, Scythe decides to head over on the excuse of seeking some female company. Being a formidable looking woman herself, no one attempts to stop her. The lady has been staring at Kalen the whole time but she accepts the offer of conversation from Scythe. Sycthe introduces herself as Miranda and the woman comments that that is the same name as the recently arrived ship before modestly admitting that she herself is known as Beauty. She denies Miranda's suggestion that she is of noble birth. The ladies fence about their age and then Beauty suggests that a particularly beautiful spot on the islands known as the valley of souls would be a lovely place for the traveller to visit. As Sycthe begins to spin a yarn about her dead husband the keen zoo-oligist, Beauty's gaze turns to Nate who is now at the bar charismatically telling an excellent heroic story about a Siren and drawing the admiration of the room. At this point Dextrin arrives and picks up the story inserting himself in an heroic role. He had burned himself on the incredibly hot mug purchased for the lady and sets is down with a hand now wrapped in cloth. Beauty expresses regret at the death of the monster but is glad all the young men have survived. Scythe introduces Dextrin to Beauty who reacts with irritation. Scythe decides to stir things up by leaving the table and heading to the bar to whisper in Kalen's ear that it's proably time to get back to the ship. Beauty is clearly angered by the insult and gets up to leave. She offers to show Dextrin around the island and tells him to ask the barman how to find her. Dextrin reacts graciously which elicits a quick smile before the woman strides out. Before the group leave, the barman describes to Dextrin a mountain further inland where Beauty can be found. It seems to be adjacent to the valley of souls that Beauty described to Sycthe.

Polly returns to the ship and notices the port side dingy is missing. But she's flown a long way and heads to sleep.

The group return to the harbour and Dextrin and Sycthe argue about who was getting further at tapping Beauty. Everyone else is pretty drunk and they all agree the woman is pretty damn odd. Nate drunkenly shouts out asking if anyone's seen a monkey and to their surprise, a drunken voice shouts back out of the dark that there is only one monkey on the island. It would appear that this particular nugget is common knowledge.

On returning to the ship, the group fail to notice what Polly spotted, i.e. that the other dingy is missing.

The following morning Henry is serving breakfast and asking if Nate sent Keena ashore. He did not, and a search ensues. Keena, the unwell guest and the second dingy are all missing. Nate demands an explanation from Baglin who says he was distracted by keeping an eye on Polly who took flight in the night. Baglin gets a dressing down and he and the two boys stay on board while everyone else gets in the dingy with the dog. They find the other dingy in the harbour, it isn't even tied up and there is some blood on one of the seats.

Cass fails to find a trail but the hound picks up the scent and the group follow him inland.