Vasmox, ordinary fellow he believes himself to be, steps away from his Weaver class family background and fascinated by tales of reaching other planes by traversing the Great Waters, trains as a marine navigator. Despite not being at all religious he is drawn to the spiritual head of the Ezsk peoples, who spoke at his graduation, and from then on finds himself embroiled in an intriguing world of subterfuge and conspiracy in the midst of political upheaval. But as events unfold he comes face to face with a beautiful young woman, Thela, precociously clever musician, trainee swordswoman, and cousin of his friend and mentor, Rieyniz Xanders.
Thela, who with her brother and father Axzis and mother Rieyna are all part of the music makers in Temple, when political changes begin to undermine their way of life putting them in danger. Since she was a small child, Thela has had a passion for the handsome navigator Vasmox, friend of her cousin Rieyniz. But she is also fascinated by her grandfather's huge sword which hangs on the wall of the family's living room. So one afternoon she takes it down from the wall and swings it, an action which then leads to events she could never have imagined.