After another run in with enforcers, Sabre, Tassin and Tarl reach Omega Five, only to find that disaster has befallen Arlin. Four years have passed on the planet during the few months Tassin has been away, and during that time she has been declared dead and her cousin, Dellon, has inherited the crown. Princess Dena has been ousted and supposedly taken in by a countess, and Torrian is Dellon’s friend and ally.
Knowing that Dellon will denounce her as a pretender if she reveals her presence and tries to reclaim her throne, Tassin and Sabre find Dena and go to King Sharmian, Grisson’s illegitimate son and now ruler of Mandor, smallest of the five kingdoms. Sharmian, however, is Torrian’s puppet, and does not have an army strong enough to fight for his independence, never mind help Tassin regain her throne. Nevertheless, they hope his attachment to Dena will persuade him to join the fight to free Arlin and Prane from Torrian’s influence.
Even with a small army to serve as a distraction and draw off Torrian’s troops, it is up to Sabre, in the end, to find a way into Tassin’s castle and confront Dellon on her behalf. Once again, she will need him to be her champion and pit his skills against medieval knights in a bid to win back Arlin so she can be queen again and they can finally have the peaceful life they have striven so hard to attain.
