Maester Jeraume, a controversial artist from Oldtown, never returned from a voyage meant to prove his claims of having discovered 'Valyrian Marble'. Determined to clear Jeraume's name, an art collector and ardent admirer of the artist hires a young sea captain to investigate the mysterious disappearance - and perhaps expose the Conclave's flimsy cover-up. The journey takes the crew from Oldtown to the corsair nests of Talon and beyond.