Born during a period of insurrection on the world, Fimiah Hafrin is found by a wandering Hynarkin trader, Marrek Lytsun. Marrek leaves him with friends, Zivvoz and Kili to be raised. But in his tenth year, during a squabble with his brother, Indoro, Hafrin finds out he is not related to Zivvoz and his family. Although no one will tell him who precisely he is, Marrek takes Hafrin home.

At fifteenth Hafrin makes a two-fold discovery: that he is Royalty, the Alaiad Presumptive. And Marrek and the other Hynarkin are not native to Fimiah. Hafrin