Many of the novel's adventurers seeking their fortune in the gold fields of Assail first had to pass through the hazardous Narrows. First mentioned was the Confederate pirate Burl Tardin and his vessel, the Sea Strike. Later, Jute Hernan and Ieleen made the same chest-tightening journey aboard the Silver Dawn. Finally, the Ruse-sensitive navigator Reuth led the Lady's Luck past a crowd of foreign ships studying the passage to make their own attempts. Several of the other ships, which included Cartharon Crust aboard the Ragstopper, Timmel Orosenn aboard the Supplicant, and Tyvar Gendarian aboard the Resolute, observed his route and successfully followed his example.