At the end of their world tour, Aznaro's newfound boredom leads him and his brothers Cordin and Osoro to Cristob l Col n and his three ships: the Ni a, the Pinta, and the Santa Mar a. The officer of the Mar a, an angry man named Rentier, seems indifferent to everything but the success of the voyage, but he has his reasons for everything. Soon strife arises between the crew, the officer, and the three men. It'll take all their patience and talent for living to get them past the Great Sea and into the new world and back again.