Tavi of Calderon now captain of his own Legion has been fighting a bitter war for two years Then he discovers the invading Canim warriors are harbingers of a far greater threat The Canim are being hunted in their turn by a savage race that forced them from their homeland
- & which has pursued them to the Aleran borders With options fast running out Tavi proposes an alliance with the Canim But the Senate's new military commander wishes only to wipe out the Canim 'scourge' & would also kill Aleran slaves that have sought freedom with these aggressors Tavi must reconcile Aleran & Canim slavemaster & slave Citizen & Proletarian if an alliance is to be forced & he must lead his Legion in defiance of the law against both friend & enemy
- before the greatest army of all launches its assault