Kavi is a peasant peddler selling bronze goods plated in gold and he holds a grudge against the deghans.

When he was a young apprentice to a man in the city of Mazad, a deghan came in looking for a remarkable sword and is willing to pay an astronomical price for it, but does not have the money with him.

While Kavi is running from a city where he is found to be selling false gold items, he is caught up in High Commander Merahb's plan.

But while he is on his usual rounds of the northern mining towns selling second rate iron goods to the country folk, he is captured by Hrum scouts who have infiltrated Farsala unknown.

When Jiaan wakes up, all he sees is his father attempting to save his army and challenge the Hrum's champion to a life or death duel for victory or defeat.