The Artemis finally reaches Jamaica bringing Jamie and Claire much closer to their goal. During a ball on the island, the Frasers encounter old allies, as well as former adversaries who threaten to derail their mission.
The Bakra opens with Young Ian’s kidnapping. He’s brought aboard the Portuguese pirate ship. Someone called the Bakra likes young boys and so he’ll be kept alive. After arriving in Jamaica, Young Ian is thrown into a cave cell where other boys are being kept. They tell him some of the boys have been taken away never to be seen again.
Later, Young Ian wakes to find a woman coming out of a bath of blood. She informs him it is goat’s blood and the iron and protein keep her skin young. It is Geillis Duncan but she’s now Mistress Abernathy. Geillis servant brings refreshments which Ian gobbles up.
Geillis starts questioning Young Ian about three sapphires. Young Ian can’t help but tell her everything including that his uncle may have removed one of the sapphires in question. Geillis informs him there was truth serum of sorts in the refreshments. Geillis is stunned to learn Jamie Fraser is Young Ian’s uncle. Geillis mentions that having sex with virgins keeps her young but Ian tells her he’s not a virgin but she dismisses this. Thankfully they don’t show what happens after.
The Artemis arrives in Jamaica and Jamie and Claire immediately start searching for Young Ian. They go to the slave market hoping Young Ian hasn’t been sold off. Claire watches as a young black man is being sold and mistreated by slavers. Claire is outraged and in her emotional reaction attacks the slaver. Claire pleads with Jamie to do something but all Jamie can do is buy the man. Claire is horrified to own a human being and wishes to free him but Jamie warns her that freeing him could put him in danger. Jamie and Claire ask Temeraire for his help in finding Young Ian amongst the governor’s slaves. Jamie tries to reassure Temeraire he is not obligated to help though his own nephew was stolen away like Temeraire. Temeraire agrees to help.
We learn the Campbell’s are working with Geillis and Margaret needs to hold all three sapphires in order to reveal the Brahan Seer’s Prophecy. She is determined to see a Scot on the throne.
The Fraser’s arrive at the Governor’s ball where Archibald Campbell happens to encounter Claire. Yi Tien Cho, Fergus and Marsali are all at the ball and Yi Tien Cho is a hit with the local white women who have never seen a Chinese man. Yi Tien notices Margaret who is speaking with a slave. Later the two meet on the grounds and Yi Tien tells Margaret she deserves better than how her brother uses her.
Jamie and Claire are lined up to greet the new Governor of Jamaica and if there weren’t enough coincidences the new governor happens to be Lord John Grey. Jamie is happy to see John who is shocked especially when Jamie introduces his wife Claire. John leads Jamie and Claire into his study where they catch up on Jamie’s son who is doing well. Jamie realizes John is wearing the sapphire he gave him back at Ardsmuir and a moment passes between the two. Claire is completely stunned by the intimacy between Jamie and John.
Back at the party, Jamie is mingling and John and Claire have a moment to talk. They discuss the sapphire and what Claire knows briefly before Claire spies Geillis and rushes off to catch up with her. Geillis recounts her tale of being spared until her baby was born and then Dougal helping her escape. She tells Claire she married a plantation owner and is now Mistress Abernathy of Rose Hall. Claire tells Geillis about Young Ian who offers her help.
Geillis and Claire go back inside to find Jamie and John having a moment. Geillis notices John’s sapphire. She orders Archibald and Margaret to start telling fortunes and then ropes John into getting his fortune told. She tells him Margaret must hold something of his and suggest the sapphire. When John concedes, Margaret reluctantly takes the sapphires and mutters, “When the issue is cut down, then will a Scotsman wear a crown.”
John laughs off the absurd fortune while Geillis drags Archibald outside and demands a translation to the prophecy.
Meanwhile, Fergus and Marsali are taking a moment to be alone when the spy Captain Leonard arriving at the ball. They rush to warn Jamie. All are fleeing the ball when Temeraire appears and informs them that The Bruja delivered its cargo to Mistress Abernathy at Rose Hall. Jamie assures Temeraire that as soon as they are able they will free him. Temeraire tells Jamie of other escaped slaves near Rose Hall. The Fraser set off and free Temeraire before Captain Leonard reappears capturing Jamie.
As Jamie is being hauled away he implores Claire to continue searching for Young Ian.
