Brothers Brannek and Lorek of the house of Hybarion are the youngest children of the leader of a loose confederation of clans. In a remote part of the country, their maternal grandfather teaches them his own hard-won skills, while they ponder their future. Brannek, the elder, has always been the most diligent student. Their intelligence and courage are tested to the limit when tragedy occurs and they return home to find the aftermath of a bloody coup.

Their father suffered personal setbacks, and allowed sedition to spread among old enemies. Those enemies now seek the brothers with...