[1] The book begins just after Kelric has escaped the planet of Coba, where he had been held prisoner for over 18 years.

Forced to land because of his ships short fuel supply, Kelric takes up a lucrative job as the spaceship Corona's tactical officer under the command of Jafe Maccar, only to be captured by his people's enemies, the Eubians.

An Aristo Taratus sells Kelric in an auction to Tarquine Iquar, Minister of Finance.

Not long after his enslavement, Kelric makes a bold escape, which although successful, cripples his health significantly.

There, he deactivates the mechanism and meets Jaibriol III, new emperor of the Eubian Empire, whom he immediately suspects to be a psion.