CHANGES. CHALLENGES.

Eleven years after Katerin Healer learned that she was a scion of the exiled Miteal family, former rulers of the Darani Empire, she has settled into a pattern. Personal healer to one of the three Leaders of the Two Nations, Alicira ea Miteal. Her daughter Witmara grows more powerful in magic as she studies with Alicira and her spouses, the other two leaders of the Two Nations, Heinmyets and Inharise. But Alicira's health is failing...and that is not the only change facing Katerin.

Rekare ea Miteal, Alicira's daughter and Katerin's cousin, wrestles with her role as the Leader of Medvara. While she loves her daughter Melarae, she is ambivalent toward her daughter. Worse than that, Rekare fears that the land has withdrawn its approval of her rule. She is haunted by traps laid by her father Zauril, and fears he reaches out from the grave to doom her Leadership of Medvara.

Then a distant relative, Chiral ea Ralsem, seeks refuge from the Darani Empire. But something isn't right about Chiral. As Alicira's health wanes, Rekare and Katerin must work together to deal with this threat to Medvara--and the other nations of the land of Varen. The Seven Crowned Gods have their own agenda. What are the consequences of thwarting Chiral's schemes, and why are the Gods meddling now?

Katerin and Rekare are faced with many challenging choices but not all are honorable-or wise.