With the immediate threat of war on Kalima averted, Alere, Kett, and Corin must track down Alere's sister, Mina. But Alere struggles to understand her new-found powers, only certain that Mina is in danger. When slavers decimate Mina's ship, the situation turns lethal. JArran, the new Jun First of Mamlakah, has been captured along with Mina, and Rohne Connor.

Now Alere and her companions must recover the Jun First and Mina from Hassan Nasim, the most brutal Slavemaster of Melcor, - before Jarran loses his new throne to rebellion. And Rohne has his own, unknown agenda.

In the attempt to free her sister and friends, Alere will risk more than just her own life and theirs. She'll gamble with the sovereignty of her Jundom, and the lives of the people of Mamlakah, itself.

If she fails, it means death or slavery for everyone she loves and destruction for Xintou House.

But succeeding could be even worse.