A few days later pirate vessels appear and sink the helpless ship after killing most of the men on board. As the ship sinks, Casca sees a young girl being taken from the hold, captive, to one of the pirate vessels. The ship pulls Casca down with it to the bottom, but Casca's curse keeps him alive for six years, trapped on the seabed. Once, a sword falls to within his grasp and he keeps hold of it. One day he sees fishing vessels approach, casting a large net down, and he grabs hold and is pulled to the surface, much to the surprise of the African fishermen.
Their leader, a man called Ewuare, believes Casca to be the sea god Olokun and hopes he is going to help free his people, the Edo, from the tyrannical rule of his brother, Oba Awanoshe. Awanoshe rules as king of Benin and Casca goes to the city with the annual tribute from Ewuare's village. A young man called Yrag also comes to the city. All the people there live in fear and it becomes clear to Casca that evil rules in Benin. Awanoshe acknowledges Casca as Olokun and allows him to live in the city. Casca's recovery from his immersion in the sea is helped on the way by three women, Ary and her two daughters Anah and Okuse, who become his nurses and lovers.
Awanoshe's thirst for power compels him to send his army to attack the defenseless neighboring tribe of the Igbo, under the command of Anaken, a man who does not like the king. Casca befriends the general and both agree the campaign is unjust, but carry out the Oba's commands nevertheless, and return with a complete victory. This only serves to drive the mad Oba and his chief minister Tajah-nor to demand another conquest, this of Yoruba. However this time the attack is destroyed and only Anaken, Casca and six others make it back to Benin City, Casca horribly wounded.
The defeat gives the Oba the opportunity to dismiss Anaken and declare the 'god' Olokun a false one and pass sentence of banishment. Four traders from Europe appear at this time and Casca wonders as to their purpose. That night Casca, Anaken and Yrag infiltrate the palace and learn that the traders intend to exchange thousands of slaves for a batch of a new weapon, a hand-cannon. Casca's knowledge of French and English helps him hear that the traders plan to double-cross the tribesmen and kill them all. Casca sends Yrag out to the city to warn the people who rise up and defeat the palace guards. The evil Oba and his minions are killed.
Anaken then leads the army to the coast where the traders plan to land. They join up with the new Oba, Ewuare, and together they destroy the Europeans, thanks to their use of armored elephants. With the Edo people saved, Casca decides that it is time for him to depart.