Chapter 14 Summary

The great gathering is even more spectacular and exciting than Thorby had imagined, with over eight hundred Free Trader ships joined to partake in the festivities on and around the planet Hekate.

Fritz tells Thorby about the reason the Free Traders considered themselves in Baslim's debt, and points out the Hansea (the ship of the family that Baslim rescued from slavers).

Rhoda, Sisu's new chief officer, clearly has very ambitious plans for the ship she has recently gained control of, and is formulating plans of spawning a second ship (the current ship is getting too small and "twinning" is the most prestigious way to remedy the situation. She is also formulating means to have her husband promoted to a more influential position within the Free Trader Community, and she believes that their ties to Thorby (and thus their role in repaying Baslim's debt...