Three years have passed in Puerto Blanco, and there has been no news of the Barracuda. Emilio, still passing himself off as a woman, has been learning the art of fencing from Mr Flynn. Maria, now married to the slave merchant Ferrango, makes her husband's existence a living hell. As for Raffy, being left behind by his pirate father has hit him hard. But when an old enemy of Flynn's sails into the harbour, their lives are turned upside down again.