Privateer Arama Dzornaea, captain of the Dawn Star, must transport Crown Prince Vistaren of Amethir to meet his contracted bride, Princess Azmei of Tamnen. Arama worries her unwelcome attraction to General Lozarr Algot may cloud her judgement.

Vistaren isn't exactly thrilled about his upcoming marriage to a princess, since he likes men instead of women. Torn between duty and desire, he doesn't know what to do.

And Azmei doesn't like the decision she's facing: marry a stranger or let her kingdom's war go on with no end in sight.

With some who will stop at nothing to prevent the alliance, princess, pirate, and prince are sailing into a precarious situation, with an unruly stormwitch, mysterious witchery echoes, and assassins on their trail.

There's a storm on the horizon, and its shadow is growing to cover the whole world.