The Army of Regent Arrosh advances on the forces loyal to Saalshen, homeland of the serrin people, as the serrins' friends are in full retreat. Their only hope is to reach the city of Jahnd - the serrin word for haven - across the Ipshal River. The Army of Lenayin marches with the Regent, but Sasha, sister of newly crowned King Koenyg, can no longer stomach the awful cause for which her people fight. As tensions build between Sasha and her brothers, her sister Sofy - wedded to the Regent - travels to the city of Tracato to attempt to negotiate a peaceful transition of its rich heritage to her husband's rule. But there are forces beneath the Regent's banner that wish to see all serrin and serrin-influenced civilization destroyed for good. While the serrin people fight for survival, families must be betrayed, enemies reconciled, nations persuaded, and great armies fought, as Sasha's tale reaches its dramatic conclusion.