Book Two, Chapter One: The Rot

The chapter opens with a description the dreaded Maldoror as a horror of the world as they know it, then cuts to Luck in seal form getting their face smushed and body manhandled by an oblivious Ludovica Bonnaire. Luck, who in the last chapter decided to not kill the crew members of the Gallant ship, has their patience put to the test. Honeyfoot warns Ludovica that the crew view Luck-the-seal, whom Ludo has named Sausage, superstitiously.

Reading in Remy's diary about the mast he had replaced after it was destroyed in the storm that changed his relationship with Jamis, Ludovica falls asleep and dreams of Luck, who is surprised to see Ludo cognizant of them and the dream. After an ominous conversation Luck forces Ludo to wake, who quickly forgets the contents of her dream.

Further readings into Remy's diary reveals how Rakkatak joined Gallant's crew, and the proposition he attempted to make about Remy's sister, Ludovica. It's revealed Rakkatak's efforts to woo Ludo were thwarted both by Remy, with Jamis's assistance, and Ludo's own obliviousness. Determined to study the rot that partly keeps Rakkatak employed and a nuisance to the Bonnaire siblings, Ludo enlists Jamis's help in getting and studying the rot.

Lore and Major Plot Points
-Luck biting Ludo has linked them in a way neither expected

-The crew is becoming superstitious about Luck, aka Sausage