With the journey to Penthos nearly over, Rilex and newly-named Severine wake in each other's arms. Something has changed between them, but with the danger still building around them and so many more questions to answer, neither is sure they are ready to find out exactly what.
As the ship prepares to land they part to get ready, and Severine overhears a conversation that brings all of the changes that she is facing crashing around her. In an instant, she can no longer see the future that she thought she might be building, and she wonders if she can ever really get beyond her origins.
Reeling from Severine's sudden change of heart, Rilex heads out onto Penthos to find Ciyrs, starting a chain of events that will leave both of them questioning everything as the war waits just on the horizon