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 arrives to save Falanya, but exhaustion takes a toll. Lowa seeks Wein's advice. The imperial princes suspect Wein in an attempted poisoning. When the princes surround Mealtars, Falanya convinces its people to unite and thwart their aggression.