The Rock of Tormentos

The four companions are summoned by Philip du Paix, who describes to them Isla Tormentos and the problems it is causing the Montaigne blockade. He then tells them that a Vodacce captain has acquired landing codes on the rock - the series of signal flags needed to keep the ship from being fired upon - and thus he would like to smuggle the heroes onto the island. There, they are to break into Punta Grande, the main fortress, and take a blooded mirror out of a snuffbox, at which point Lucien du Lac will bring through an Eisen mercenary captain named Holzt and a dozen picked men to silence the guns. With the guns silenced, Philip explains, the Montaigne fleet will attack and take the island.

Of course, there's a wrinkle: the Vodacce captain is none other than Captain Crispino, the companions' old nemesis. Some unhappiness over this aside, however, the heroes board Crispino's Il Falco and set sail for Tormentos.

Persons of Note

• Philip du Paix -- Our heroes' patron.
• Lucien du Lac -- A Porté master attached to Philip.
• Johann Holzt -- A scar-faced Eisen man who appears to work for Philip.
• Captain Crispino -- A Vodacce merchant, smuggler, pirate and spy, he is often the heroes' antagonist but is their ally in this affair.
• Admiral Alazais Valois Praisse du Rachetisse -- Admiral of the Montaigne Navy, the heroes rescued his nephew Captain Fernán Praisse from the Rock.
• Carlotta -- A beautiful Castillian spy and opera singer, she posed as a "Doña Abella" on Isla Tormentos.
• Don Cruz Montoya del Velasquez -- Governor of the island, his wife and all his family except his daughter are missing in Occupied Castille.
• Zoya Villar del Velasquez -- Don Cruz' daughter, she is 16 and the most beautiful girl in Rancho Zepeda.
• Commandante Juan Alfarez -- Military commander of the Rock, Juan Alfarez was murdered by Julien in Punta Grande.