Back home after Natra's victory, Wein's sweet dream is dashed by reality. He must lead the defense of the mine they captured, but will his tactics work? Fisch discovers a secret about Wein's past. Bad news arrives from Marden but with a sliver of hope.

Wein heads to Cavarin for the Festival of the Spirit, but it is a perilous journey with Mardenian remnants in the borderlands and rebellious lords at home. In Marden, Wein forges an unlikely alliance, but the intrigue goes into overdrive in Cavarin.

When Wein's second meeting with King Ordalasse ends with deadly consequences, the Natran delegation flees with the Cavarinians in hot pursuit. But Wein has a plan to turn hunter into hunted. Zenovia asks a favor that Wein is hard-pressed to refuse.

Wein tries to thwart Delunio and Soljest with a diabolical plan. The Natrans hold their mountain fortress, but time is running short. Gruyere has one condition for helping Wein. After the bubble bursts, Wein really wants to sell his kingdom.