Meanwhile, in the rocky cays known as the Pirate Isles, a ruthless man lusts after his own kind of power. Joined by Brashen-her father's first mate, now demoted by the Vivacia's new commander-she will stop at nothing in a bitter quest to claim its captaincy. But lovely, wild-spirited Althea, sailing the Vivacia with her father since childhood and sharing its half-awakened memories and ocean secrets, has bonded with the ship in her deepest soul. The ship carries Vestrit's daughter Althea and the conniving son-in-law he has named as the Vivacia s next captain. Now, as old Captain Vestrit lies dying in Bingtown, the Vivacia cuts homeward through the waves, about to quicken into a living being. The Vestrit family's only hope of renewed prosperity is the Vivacia, a liveship they have nurtured for three generations.

Bingtown's Old Traders, their wealth eroded by northern wars and the rapacity of southern pirates, now face an influx of upstart merchants who bring change to a complex society. Visit Bantam's website at Description: Not far from the Six Duchies lies Bingtown, hub of exotic trade and home to a merchant nobility famed for its liveships- rare vessels carved from wizardwood, which ripens magically into sentient awareness. 1) ISBN 4-5 Bantam Books, 1540 Broadway, New York, New York 10036. Warren Youll Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Hobb, Robin. Book design by Lisa Stokes Cover art copyright ©1998 by Stephen Youll. Book One of the Liveship Traders Trilogy A Bantam Spectra Book/March 1998 All rights reserved.

Ship of magic