Inda, fresh from his triumph on the battlefield against
the Venn, takes his place beside King Evred as
Harskialdna, the King's Shield. But the Venn are far from
defeated and only Inda's fame is strong enough to inspire
all the squabbling kingdoms to unite and raise a force
mighty enough to protect the strait and repel the enemy.
Evred has also ordered Inda to take over the strait once
the battle is won, but Inda, a former pirate, knows that
this is a very bad idea. Now Inda must choose between
obeying his liege—or committing treason.